Smart metering project in Belgium
November 14, 2011
Flemish distribution grid operators EANDIS and INFRAX will start a smart metering pilot project in the Flanders region of Belgium.
The pilot project is scheduled to roll out approximately 36,000 smart communication gateways in 2012. The communication gateways will enable automated two way communication between central systems and electricity and gas meters from multiple vendors.
Both companies operate about 3.2 million electricity metering points and 1.8 million metering points for gas. They have both been engaged in smart metering projects since early 2009. The pilot project is a next step towards the goal of a large scale rollout of smart metering services to their customers.
The communication gateways to be developed and manufactured will enable the two companies to set-up wide area communication via powerline (PLC), DSL/LAN networks and mobile networks (GPRS).
The architecture will merge existing technology and components, with new concepts developed by EANDIS, such as filtering and “multiple gateways” for PLC communication.
The products will also feature interfaces for local configuration and administration, as well as for feedback possibilities of consumption values to consumers. Special attention will be given to security and power consumption requirements.
