Real-time smart meters network for energy management

Abstract

In this paper, an architecture of a low-cost ARMbased Smart Metering network is presented. The system is designed to be suitable for Smart Grids applications aimed to a more efficient energy use according to the article 13 of Directive 2006/32/EC. The network is composed by several slave smart meters that continuously monitor loads and energy generator to make available information in real-time such as power and energy consumption/generation and several power quality parameters to specific master device called data aggregator via CAN bus. This device integrating the information coming from slave smart meters and information regarding co-generator status, the forecast renewable source availability and, through a web service access, current energy prices can take decisions to suitable energy management cost strategy. So the user can remotely control their consumption using the web browser (Client), and locally thanks to the display of the data aggregator. To prevent external attacks a low computational burden software protection based on Message Authentication Code (MAC) has been implemented. Finally, characterization test of realized apparatus have shown good performances both in terms of communication errors and measurement uncertainty. Copyright © (2012) by the International Measurement Federation (IMEKO).