In this exclusive article for IoT Insider, Jubin Molai, Product Manager IoT at UPLINK Group shares how LoRaWAN has brought submetering into a “new era”
In the pursuit of smarter, more efficient energy management, submetering has become a key focus in the utilities sector. By tracking energy consumption at a granular level—down to individual units within buildings—submetering allows property managers, utility providers, and consumers to gain deeper insights into energy use. Now, with the advent of LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), submetering has entered a new era, offering scalable and efficient solutions for remote monitoring and data collection. This shift is expected to significantly impact the way energy consumption is managed, particularly in residential and commercial buildings.
The role of LoRaWAN in submetering
LoRaWAN is a low-power, long-range wireless communication protocol and radio-standard that excels in connecting devices over wide distances with minimal energy consumption. LoRaWAN is ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, where large-scale, decentralided communication networks are needed to support devices that may be located in hard-to-reach areas, such as meters in basements or remote sites.
One of LoRaWAN’s standout features is its ability to transmit small packets of data over long distances while maintaining low power consumption. This characteristic is especially beneficial for submetering, where devices like heat cost allocators, water meters, and gas meters need to transmit usage data reliably over several years without frequent battery replacements. By leveraging this radio-standard, LoRaWAN enables a more cost-effective and efficient infrastructure for submetering, particularly in large-scale residential or commercial properties.
UPLINK and Sontex: Pioneering smart metering in Germany
Recently, two companies, UPLINK and Sontex, have taken the lead in utilising LoRaWAN to revolutionise the submetering market in Germany. Their partnership, announced at the HeiKo 2023 specialist congress for heating billing companies, aims to bring remote energy monitoring to a new level of sophistication. UPLINK, a provider of decentralised radio infrastructure, and Sontex, a well-established manufacturer of energy consumption meters, have collaborated to create a comprehensive submetering solution based on the LoRaWAN protocol.
This partnership is particularly significant because it addresses a growing demand for seamless and transparent energy management. The system integrates Sontex’s heat cost allocators and water meters with UPLINK’s decentralised LoRaWAN network, providing real-time data on energy consumption. The long range and battery efficiency of LoRaWAN devices make them ideal for such applications, ensuring that meters can function reliably even in difficult-to-access locations.
Benefits for consumers and the housing industry
The deployment of LoRaWAN in submetering brings several advantages to consumers, property managers, and utility companies. For consumers, the system provides a transparent view of their energy consumption, which can help them make more informed decisions about energy use and cost savings. By enabling real-time data monitoring, LoRaWAN submetering systems allow consumers to track their usage patterns and adjust their behaviors to reduce waste and save money.
For property managers and utility providers, LoRaWAN submetering eliminates the need for manual meter readings, significantly reducing operational costs. The ability to remotely monitor energy use also simplifies maintenance and ensures more accurate billing, eliminating discrepancies between estimated and actual consumption. Additionally, by automating the collection of energy data, the technology facilitates better resource planning and supports sustainability goals by identifying inefficiencies in energy use.
The future of submetering
As energy efficiency and sustainability become increasingly important, the adoption of innovative technologies like LoRaWAN in submetering is set to grow. The collaboration between UPLINK and Sontex in Germany marks a significant step forward in this evolution, demonstrating how IoT technologies can be applied to create smarter, more efficient energy management systems.
In the future, we can expect LoRaWAN submetering to play an even more pivotal role in transforming energy use in residential and commercial buildings. The scalability and flexibility of LoRaWAN make it well-suited for the widespread adoption of smart metering systems, enabling greater connectivity and data transparency. As more industries and markets embrace this technology, the potential for optimising energy consumption and improving sustainability will continue to expand.
In conclusion, the integration of LoRaWAN into submetering opens up new possibilities for efficient energy management. With its long-range communication and low power requirements, LoRaWAN offers a solution that is not only cost-effective but also highly adaptable, paving the way for smarter energy monitoring and a more sustainable future. The partnership between UPLINK and Sontex serves as a prime example of how this technology can be harnessed to meet the growing demands of the energy market, benefiting both consumers and the wider housing industry.
Jubin is guiding Germany into the Internet of Things through UPLINK and The People’s Network, the world’s largest decentralised LoRaWAN network, powered by Helium. He transformed UPLINK from Germany’s FM broadcasting leader into a pioneer in cooperative network operations – the country’s LoRaWAN operator, unlocking the potential of IoT.
Author: Jubin Molai, Product Manager IoT at UPLINK Group
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