Technische Universitaet Dortmund in Germany
The advantages of a distributed power supply are obvious in the proximity to the end consumer allows for low-loss short transmission paths. Renewable energies such as, private photovoltaic or combined head and power plants can effectively be used in distributed power supply systems.

Research project SMEDEA (Standardised Smart Metering as Key Function of Energy Efficiency of Distributed Generation) develops ways and standards for Smart Metering systems which considers distributed generation. Smart Meters are to be available for end consumers as from 2010.

Accordingly  the control and organisation of the distributed generation and supply systems has to be defined as soon as possible. At the end of March, the NRW-Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Christa Thoben, presented a grant for funding of €370.000 to a competitively successful project “Energie.NRW”  coordinated by (right)  Professor Christian Rehtanz, power systems and power economics at the Department of Electrical Engineering & Information Technology at TU Dortmund.

Partners from industry are EVB Energie AG, one of the leading service providers for power supply companies, as well as Energieversorgung Oelde GmbH.

Thoben said she was happy “to start this Smart Metering project..because energy efficiency requires consumption transparency in households. With intelligent meters we take an important step in this direction.  Developing and using electronic household meters, we open up new ways to increase the efficiency of the customer’s power consumption and induce energy-saving, on the one hand. On the other hand, it has advantages for power suppliers with remote reading and a simpler accounting. “

The research project makes use of the EU-guideline 2006/32/EG “Energy Efficiency and Energy Services” which calls for the end consumers to be promptly informed about their power consumption and the individual use. Each power consumer shall be able to influence and reduce his power consumption.

The basis for this is an extensive application of Smart Metering-systems which – equipped with communication interfaces – can also be used for efficient energy management especially by distributed generation devices.

But with regard to virtual realisation, scientists find themselves confronted with an abundance of problems which prevent the optimal combination of processing meter readings, network planning and power supply operation.

 The IT-networking of the components presents a big technological challenge, especially as producers of electronic meters are currently using different communication standards. It is necessary to develop standards and concepts and  test them in the field. In addition to that, data privacy law implications have to be considered.

The project partner Energieversorgung Oelde GmbH has taken a Smart Metering-network with approximately 150 single meters into operation. This pilot project is to used as a basis for the field test. Within the scope of this pilot project, the prompt automatic consumption data acquisition is realised by EVB Energie AG.

The testing environment in the laboratories of the Chair for Power Systems and Power Economics at TU Dortmund offers a platform for the theoretical analysis of the system prior to its installation into the network. During the three year project, partners will plan, develop and field-test the system. The  pilot project results will then be applicable to normal networks, regardless of their seize, and will significantly improve their profitability as well as the efficient use of the decentralised power supply.

Italy one jump ahead
In 2006 Enel in Italy completed a five-year smart meter installation project (left). Advanced meters reportedly were installed at more than 27m business and residential customer sites in Enel’s service territory at a cost of €2bn.

Estimates are the utility will be able to save €500m a year  from being able to perform  functions remotely instead of sending out field representatives. Saving also accrue because the smart system is able to improve network planning, load balancing, and detect fraud. Thanks in part to Enel, Italy is possibly at the forefront of the coming smart meter revolution that promises to save power companies tens of billions in Euros over time.

The internet approach
Google has declared its entry into the small but growing business of “smart grid,” digital technologies and is offering a free Web service PowerMeter that consumers can use to track energy use in houses or business. It is expecting others to build the devices to feed data into PowerMeter technology, but has not yet organised any hardware manufacturers, though it hope to introduce its  service in the next few months.

The UK has other concerns
The Energy Retail Association located in London, and  headed by CEO Dr Garry Felgate who is directing  for a Board made up of the CEOs and MDs of the six member companies.

All the main energy suppliers operating in the residential market in Great Britain are members of the association, it is claimed, although Scottish Hydro Electric seems to be missing from the list which includes:
    * EDF Energy
    * British Gas
    * RWE nPower
    * Scottish and Southern Energy plc
    * Scottish Power
    * E.ON Powergen

However the issues currently to be considered are listed as:
    * Tackling fuel poverty and protecting vulnerable customers [1]
    * Delivering energy efficiency schemes [2]
    * Ensuring good sales practice [3]
    * Developing hassle-free systems for changing electricity/gas supplier [4]
    * Developing industry standards for customer billing [5]
    * Preventing debt and disconnections [6]

If you want to meter your consumption in the UK, there is an independent and impartial private limited company  UK Power Ltd which claims to make it easy for people to compare gas, electricity and dual fuel prices between suppliers and it is offeriing free gas and electricity cost tools.


B
But for the most proactive engagement with power poverty, and on quite a different track from the smart meter route, is that devised by one small village to the north of Glasgow which isreliant on electricity and LPG for heat and power.

Fintry village, Scotland, has its own solution
In the village of Fintry to the north of Glasgow,however villagers are already counting around £180,000 in energy savings in less than a year after celebrating the launch of its own wind turbine at the local Earlsburn Windfarm (left) , where the extra turbine was built for the community. 

(Left: The Fintry turbine stands with 14 others on Earlsburn wind farm.)

A village-wide insulation project has subsequently helped the eco- conscious community reach another milestone. The some 300 household village calculates it has increased disposable income in the area by £180,000 a year, with a combination of insulation measures and energy efficiency advice.

Local residents established a development trust to decide what actions the community should take to reduce energy demand, making successful bids to the Climate Challenge Fund and Scottish Hydro Electric to pay for energy surveys and insulation measures throughout the community.

Aware of the significant work involved in coordinating this activity, the community decided to appoint  a non-profit organisation, the Energy Agency to provide free, impartial, expert advice on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable issues and to manage day-to-day running of the project while the development trust oversaw the project with monthly review meetings.

Around 78% of properties in the community took part in the doorstep surveys, more than half the properties surveyed were suitable for the free loft and cavity wall insulation on offer. Fintry is not connected to a mains gas network and, with many exposed properties on high ground, fuel bills are high. The insulation measures alone are expected to save £600 a year from average household fuel bills and CO2 emissions will reduce by 464 tonnes a year.

Energy Agency project manager Michael Carr said: “Not only are we cutting carbon and lowering fuel bills, the survey has provided some startling figures. Around 47% of households in Fintry were spending more than 10% of their income heating their homes, which is the Scottish Government’s definition of 'fuel poverty.'

“With a target to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016, the Scottish Government is taking positive action by funding this area based insulation project through their Climate Challenge Fund. Fuel poverty has now been reduced by a quarter.”

“This has been a good first project for the Trust and we’re very pleased with the results. “However, it is only the beginning of our journey to make Fintry the UK’s first truly carbon neutral community, says Development Trust chairman Martin Turner. “We’re now developing plans to address the more difficult problem of how to treat properties with solid walls and combed ceilings and looking at how we can start funding highly energy efficient heating systems.”

The trust is also preparing for the Fintry Renewable Energy Show (FRESh), a two day event in early May being held in the village. 


Sources:
SmartGrid opinion survey
New York Times
Energy TechStocks
Stirling Observer

Professor Christian Rehtanz
Google PowerMeter
UK Power Ltd
Fintry Trust
Energy Agency