Leveraging returns on smart meter infrastructure

Melbourne-based smart grid and wireless sensor network provider, Telepathx has announced that it will begin conditional licensing of its RFID, wireless sensor network (WSN) and communications aggregation products to smart meter and BPL (broadband over power line) manufacturers.

The company said the decision will allow energy providers and BPL operators a faster return on infrastructure investments.

James Eades, Telepathx chairman and CEO, said the move was necessary because it was clear to many in the industry that there is no one clear solution available for developing the smart grid.

"It's very evident that both smart meter and BPL platforms have fallen short on delivering the intelligent energy grid. By integrating the sensory network platform into smart meter and BPL platforms, it would fill the tremendous gap left behind in the distribution network and deliver an intelligent energy grid from end to end," said Eades.

“We and many switchgear OEMs look at the state of these platforms — specifically the current generation of smart meters — and just see another wasted opportunity. Simply because they just haven't gone far enough, from a grid automation perspective.

“It's a single use system and, given the cost involved, we think future smart meter deployments should have the capacity to go beyond the grid and generate revenues to cover the cost of these planned multibillion dollar AMR/AMI rollouts,” he said.

“And this is what our platform was designed to do.”