Optical Meter Reader for connected utility and sub-meter reading

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£488,680

Nov. 1, 2020

July 31, 2021

SMART METERING

Smart metering is a technology implemented on energy distribution on a worldwide scale driven by new regulations, needs for improved efficiency in energy grids and customer demand for improved billing and feedback. Even though the smart meter rollout is driven by incentives and legislation in countries like the U.K. and parts of EU, it lags on the time plans. It has also met resistance, mostly due to high costs and low motivation to change the meters by the end-users.

SLOW AND COSTLY PROGRESS

Large sums of money are invested with quite slow results in the meter rollout. For countries with less access to capital, it is a difficult task to roll out expensive smart meter systems.

REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES

Smart metering is often mentioned as an example of an ICT solution with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

A large part of the meter readings is done manually by meter readers. Visiting various residential homes, buildings, and other premises is a risk of both catching and spreading the COVID-19 infection.

OPTICAL SMART METERING

Laiwa Optical Meter reading is a solution where an optical meter reader is attached to the front of the utility meter, it reads the meter display, converts the numbers to digital values that transmit through the smart meter or mobile communication networks. By doing so, a virtual smart meter is created that fulfils the requirements of the SMETS smart metering standard.

VIRTUAL SMART METERS

By using the smart optical meter reader with existing, well working, electromechanical meters, "virtual smart meters", the smart meter technology can be implemented at a much lower cost than a full smart meter rollout.

COST SAVING

The installation of the optical readers is much easier than installing a complete smart meter and achieves significant cost savings through keeping the existing meter infrastructure with residing investment value transforming them to virtual smart meters.

The system is a solution to making legacy meters smart at a minimal cost and no intrusion on the meter.