Advanced ‘smart’ electricity meter developed

The Power Electronics team at Swansea University's School of Engineering in Wales has developed a highly advanced smart electricity meter. And the team is now supplying nearly 1.5 MWh per year of ‘green electricity' to the university, helping to reduce its carbon footprint.

The team implemented their prototype smart meter to highlight the potential of electricity metering technologies in the near future. The meter is to be the focal point for a consumer's personal energy queries, able to monitor energy consumption of individual power circuits in the home. The team believes they will also be able to monitor individual appliances when the technology is adopted further. The meter is also able to show power generated from micro-renewable technologies, such as commercially available wind turbines and solar panels.

The meter is linked to a number of solar panels on the roof of the university, enabling researchers to assess the likely financial performance of the ‘green energy' produced against the initial investment.

The meter also has communication abilities, allowing the readings of power consumption and generation to be instantly available to both the supplier and consumer via web pages, wireless in-home displays, or even a television channel.

Richard Lewis, a leading researcher on the smart meter team, said: “We are currently looking to create a fully functional prototype from the current demonstration unit and plan to begin residential trials within the next 18 months.”