Soracom, a global provider of advanced IoT connectivity, has announced that Mitsubishi Electric Europe has opted to integrate Soracom’s cellular connectivity into MELCloud. MELCloud is a next-gen, Cloud-based remote management system for Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning, heating, and heat recovery/ventilation products.
The demand for climate control systems that can balance comfort and energy conservation is rising in Europe. This demand is propelled by recent increases in energy costs and accelerated decarbonisation efforts, extending beyond the EU Emissions Trading System to encompass the introduction of a new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and novel approaches to carbon pricing. Particularly, the demand for heat pump water heating is swiftly increasing as users pursue an effective and energy-efficient alternative to conventional combustion boilers.
MELCloud presents an array of new functionalities crafted to enhance the performance and efficiency of Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning, heating, and heat recovery/ventilation systems. The interface allows remote operation of these systems from a PC, tablet, or smartphone, in real-time or programmatically with seasonal or weekly timers. Operational data, encompassing detailed system status, energy consumption, temperature, airflow, and more, is transmitted to the cloud for analysis and system optimisation, with access to detailed logs and error notifications.
Already available throughout Europe, MELCloud boasted nearly 1 million registered units by the end of 2023. The inclusion of Soracom cellular connectivity facilitates seamless performance in locations where dedicated Wi-Fi may be unavailable, unreliable, or inaccessible, such as multi-unit residential sites like condominiums, apartments, and municipal public housing.
Soracom was chosen for this project following thorough evaluation of its European coverage, reliable access to networks offering multi-carrier coverage, and robust connectivity management platform. Globally, the Soracom IoT SIM now provides multi-carrier cellular connectivity in over 180 countries and regions, spanning more than 390 mobile operator networks.
Takashi Serizawa, Head of Europe Region for Soracom, commented: “Soracom’s cloud-native connectivity was crafted to support forward-thinking enterprises like Mitsubishi Electric Europe as they deploy at scale. The MELCloud initiative exemplifies how IoT technology and cloud computing are already advancing Europe’s ambitious environmental goals.”
Donald Daw, Vice LES President for Mitsubishi Electric Europe, added: “MELCloud sets the benchmark for Cloud-based control of air conditioning and heating systems. Incorporating Soracom’s reliable multi-carrier cellular connectivity empowers MELCloud customers across Europe to optimise both comfort and energy efficiency from any location, at any time.”
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by commenting below or visiting our LinkedIn page.
