Kapsch supplies smart energy solution for Wienenergie Stromnetz
Kapsch Smart Energy was contracted by Wienenergie Stromnetz to provide technical solutions as part of a smart metering pilot project. Smart meters, highly secure data transmission and central management software (the meter communication system) lay the foundation for transparent information about end user consumption and efficient grid operation.
Smart energy management makes an important contribution to energy efficiency and provides consumers with detailed information they can use to optimize their energy consumption and costs. The roll-out of smart metering is regulated in Austria by the Smart Meter Introduction Ordinance (IME-VO) of the Ministry of Economics, which has established the goal of equipping 95% of Austria’s roughly 5 million households with smart meters by 2019. Austria will then have met the EU target one year in advance of the deadline established in the corresponding directive.
Christian Schober, CEO of Kapsch Smart Energy is pleased about the order from Wienenergie Stromnetz, the largest Austrian power grid operator with over one million customers, and views it as a confirmation of the comprehensive smart energy competence at Kapsch: “We have developed a complete concept for intelligent energy management that satisfies all legal, technical and organizational requirements. This new energy management capability offers many benefits to customers, energy grid operators and the environment. To fully realize this potential, we are focusing heavily on data privacy, IT security and the availability of the associated systems.”
Comprehensive security management in the end-to-end smart metering solution
Kapsch is delivering 1,400 smart meters from the manufacturer Echelon for the recently started pilot project. These devices satisfy the Austrian ordinances and have been approved and calibrated by the Federal Office for Metrology and Surveying. The core of the solution is central meter management software that controls the entire Kapsch system and processes the meter data, which is transmitted over encrypted connections. The system can be expanded at any time for additional electricity and gas meters.