Rome and Geneva– Gridspertise and STMicroelectronics (ST) have announced on the occasion of DistribuTECH 2023 that they have entered a new phase of their long-term collaboration on smart meters technologies.
The two companies’ collaboration started in the early 2000s with one of Gridspertise’s shareholders Enel. Today more than 65 million Gridspertise smart meters deployed are leveraging the power-line communication (PLC) technologies provided by ST. These smart meters are deployed in Spain, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Moreover, ST’s latest PLC system-on-chip has been integrated in Gridspertise smart meters for Italy. It will enable a near real-time cyber-secure communication channel for in-home devices; the so-called Chain 2 technology. Now, Gridspertise and ST are working together to extend Chain 2 to new metering solutions in the Gridspertise portfolio. This will make suitable for the U.S. and other geographies.
For end customers, Chain 2 technology improves awareness of the energy consumed and self-produced. It enables a multitude of new enhanced services that simplify their energy usage through home automation. Chain 2 technology encourages an active role for all the players in the energy market and the penetration of distributed renewable sources. For example, the technology allows recommending to the end customer tailor-made behaviors based on real-time data production from its own generation system, like photovoltaic panels. It also enables the smart meter to collect real-time data on home appliances’ consumption.
Other Areas:
Furthermore, Gridspertise and ST are collaborating in multiple other areas, too. Moreover, the Companies are cooperating for the adoption of the latest DLMS1-certified standards into Gridspertise smart meters. This is to further enhance interoperability and interchangeability between devices and systems.
“Working together with other key industry leaders is fundamental to accelerating grid digitalization and to promoting an active role for end users in the energy transition,” said Gianni Ceneri, Chief Technology Officer, Gridspertise. “We are pleased to strengthen our strategic collaboration with STMicroelectronics leveraging shared best practices.”
“As Gridspertise accelerates the growth of its business, ST continues to develop and contribute our unique system know-how, dedicated support, and ready-to-use solutions,” added Domenico Arrigo, General Manager of STMicroelectronics’s Industrial and Power Conversion Division in the Analog, MEMS & Sensors Group.
This latest step perfectly suits Gridspertise’s mission to deliver a new era of sustainable and reliable smart grids. This is extremely timely in the current U.S. context. The new federal policies have unleashed a wave of investment in the energy transition and grid modernization. Together, ST and Gridspertise are unlocking the penetration of new flexible and distributed sustainable energy sources.
Moreover, both Companies have branches in the U.S. to directly engage with stakeholders.
