”Smart metering solutions should be scalable”

“Within the next five years, technology must help to address AT&C losses and alleviate load shedding. This is possible if steps are taken in the early stages to deploy scalable technology,” says Dr Sean Cochrane, Product Director, Cyan Technology
Smart grid is an important element to implement new energy strategies and optimise energy resource allocation. In recent years, smart grid and smart meters are becoming fast evolving technologies around the globe. Developing countries like India, South Africa and China are also aiming to make their power grids and meters smarter. And this is increasing room for both, smart grid and smart meter. In a conversation with EPR, Dr Sean Cochrane discusses scope, technology upgradation and long-term plan for smart grid and smart meters in 12th Five-Year Plan.
How do you envision the scope of smart grid and smart meters in 12th Five-Year Plan?With the Ministry of Power drive to supply electricity to all households through smart grid technologies as well as reduce AT&C losses in all distribution utilities to below 15 per cent by 2017 there are a number of fundamentals that need to be considered when deploying smart metering solutions.
The average electricity consumption per capita in India is low and therefore it is imperative that smart technologies achieve the government’s objectives in a cost effective way which is adapted and suitable for the Indian market.
One requirement of every utility is to procure meters from various meter manufacturers. This ensures the utility has a reliable supply chain and is able to negotiate competitive pricing. As a result it is important that the smart metering solution is interoperable, enabling meters from multiple vendors to be incorporated into an ‘open system’.
The Indian meter manufacturer market currently has disparate communications protocols which could prove problematic when sending data across a wireless network. 
The implementation of a ‘open meter protocol’ that is tailored to the requirements of the Indian utilities and optimised for real time monitoring over wireless mesh networks will keep the cost of the meter low and ensure the “intelligence” is at the enterprise level.

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