Kamstrup Announces Core Smart Grid Functionality

Online, March 12, 2012 (Newswire.com) - A standardized and secure integration platform for energy retailers allowing price signals and information bulletins to flow into the Smart Metering system and be delivered to the end-consumers through the advanced Smart Meters to an in-home display. Information can be targeted individual households or broadcast in case of a sudden critical situation in the distribution grid requiring action by end-consumers.

By making the plentiful bandwidth provided by wireless technology available for the transport of retail prices and other relevant information from energy retailers to smart meters placed at end-consumers, Kamstrup fulfils a central requirement in building a Smart Grid with true demand side management.

Recent studies by the global energy think tank VasaaEtt show that empowering the end-consumer through information channels like an in-home display can result in energy reductions of 19% in individual households. A fact that will positively influence the business case of distribution system operators and energy suppliers to invest in advanced Smart Metering solutions.

The objective of the European Union is by 2020 to lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 20% and ensure that 20% of energy generation comes from renewable resources.

The means to achieve these ambitious goals are Smart Grids of which a core element is the active participation of the demand side requiring active involvement and cooperation of consumers. Smart Metering is the key building block in the Smart Grid and the most efficient instrument for increasing end-consumer awareness and involvement.

The international standards based Smart Metering solution from Kamstrup takes advantage of the globally acclaimed high performing wireless technology to provide an open and powerful 2-way communication channel between the energy market and the end-consumers. Using wireless technology in their Smart Metering solutions, Kamstrup secures a high performing system that operates independently of grid load.

The Kamstrup Smart Meters provide an open interface for end-consumers to connect an in-home display of their choice that communicates via standards such as ZigBee® or Z-Wave®. Distribution system operators can ship in-home displays with meter connectivity to end-consumers without the need for additional truck rolls.