A consortium led by SMS plc has received government support for a research project that aims to demonstrate how the smart meter system can be used to develop IoT-enabled solutions for UK households.
The trial, backed by BEIS, proposes to access a temperature sensor that is built into a smart meter’s in-home display (IHD) in order to record real-time temperature data within consumers’ homes. The temperature data, along with corresponding outside temperature data obtained from weather reports, will then be compared with the related consumption data from gas smart meters in order to make a highly accurate calculation of home heat efficiency.
Heat transfer coefficient algorithms then analyse homes’ historic gas usage data to create different archetype groups and benchmarks. Tailored advice and solutions can then be presented to consumers via an app suggesting how to use energy more cost effectively. Recommendations on specific energy efficiency upgrade options, such as necessary fabric improvements and suitability for more sustainable heating systems, will also be identified and offered to each home.
Chameleon Technology. is also working on this project – Chameleon’s IHD device with built in temperature sensor is already being deployed as part of the national smart meter rollout, whilst the company’s ivie smart energy app will be utilised as part of the trial to deliver insights to customers. Independent energy supplier Green Energy UK completes the consortium of partners.
Tom Woolley, Smart Product and Strategy Director at SMS, said:
This exciting project is yet another great opportunity to show how the smart meter system can be used as a platform for innovation. Through the ongoing smart meter rollout, the UK Government, network operator Smart DCC, and industry pioneers like SMS are helping establish a digital backbone for the UK energy industry.
This particular study will look at new ways of proving how our national, secure, and interoperable smart meter ecosystem can be used for more than just energy data. The use case we have identified will enable a low-cost, mass-market opportunity using existing technologies to assess the heat loss coefficient of a property. In turn, we anticipate we will be able to intelligently identify solutions for homeowners, such as modelling the impact a heat pump would have in their home, as well as offering more practical advice on home energy efficiency.
