Meeting the ‘high-rise challenge’How to make smart metering work in multi-occupier dwellings

The challengeSmart metering in the home is now becoming established technology: connecting the meter with a comms hub and an in-home display is a proven solution that offers clear benefits to consumers and utility providers alike.

Multi-occupier dwelling units (MDUs), on the other hand, such as the typical high-rise apartment blocks that are found throughout the UK, represent a unique technical challenge for smart metering installations. For example, if meters are in the basement, how can data reliably be routed to a display in each apartment?

With a significant proportion of the UK population living in MDUs – a trend that is likely to continue with the increasing demand for housing in towns and cities – this is a challenge that cannot be ignored. It is relevant to distribution network operators, water companies and communication service providers, but until now, it has remained a problem.

Our solution At Siemens, we believe we have the answer. Together with our partners PowerPlus Communications, Siemens Metering, Communications and Services - which brings over 10 years of experience in managed meter deployment, including large scale smart installation - has now developed a turnkey solution for high-rise premises, following a trial of the technology in Manchester.

The building chosen was a 150 apartment high-rise building and the trial demonstrated a practical and simple method of addressing the technology challenge. The solution that has resulted includes the following:

� Core products: both hardware and network management / data collection software

� Installation and commissioning � Integration into backhaul systems � On-going maintenance and performance monitoring

siemens.co.uk/metering

Metering, Communications and Services

The detailThe trial involved connecting water meters, fitted with one-way AMR devices, to smart metering ‘gateway’ devices, positioned at different levels in the building. These connect with all electronic meters using a broadband power line (BPL) network. Equipped with Zigbee, Wireless-M-Bus, RS485, RS232, M-Bus or CS interfaces, the PowerPlus LGW200 gateway was used in the trial and can be easily connected to meters of all utilities.

The gateway then receives the data from the meters and sends it to a ‘head end’. This (the PowerPlus LH200, in the trial) is the interface between the BPL network and the backbone.

The head end modulates data on the low-voltage grid, with a gross data rate of 200 Mbps – and converts the power line signals to data communications, which are then transmitted via 3G or GPRS over the mobile network to an SQL database / enterprise information portal.

The numbers of meters addressable by each gateway device will vary, depending upon building construction. Configuration will also depend upon the specific circumstances in a building – for example often there is no gas supply to flats; and meters may be in the basement, or in a meter room on each floor, or elsewhere in the building: but one constant will always be the in-home display in each apartment.

The resultWe rapidly implemented high-availability, high-bandwidth, low-latency solutions that read 100% of meters in near real-time, by leveraging standards based radio communications and the buildings existing cabling infrastructure. Swift, successful implementation has also proven that the solution is also scalable to deal with any additional devices in or near apartments.

Our experienceSiemens’ market-leading experience ranges from the delivery of smart grid solutions through the complete domestic smart value chain: from smart meter asset finance and management to installation and maintenance, as well as smart data, management and communications services for energy suppliers - all underpinned by our experience in smart implementations.

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Siemens Metering, Communications and Services Woodyard LaneWollatonNottingham, NG8 1GBA division of Siemens plcwww.siemens.co.uk/metering

Topic Expert: David LeeTel: 07808 824004E-mail: david.l.lee@siemens.com

© 2012 Siemens plc Right of modifications reserved I Printed in the UK

With Siemens as your trusted partner, we will enable you to make tomorrow’s smart energy landscape a reality

Summary and next stepsThe Siemens ‘high-rise’ solution is based on bringing together the best third party products and expertise and integrating them to ensure a first-class installation – and enabling you as the utility provider to be confident that the result will deliver reliable data flow, even in these difficult MDU environments.

With Siemens as your trusted partner in meeting the ‘high-rise challenge’, we will enable you to make tomorrow’s smart energy landscape a reality. Contact us now to find out more.