Every year, millions of households wait for the manual readings of their water meters, having to stay home or organize friends or neighbors to be present so that the reading can take place. Additionally, for water utilities the annual reading is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and causes high expenses. In the 21st century, with everything going digital or even virtual - from planning and simulation to diagnostics, from offerings-as-a-service to digital twins, and from small IIoT components to AGVs, robotics, and e-mobility, the measurement of water is still largely done in an analogue manner. Why not use the benefits of digitalization to make readings easier, more comfortable, more reliable, and more efficient for all parties involved?
Colorless, odorless, indispensable for life. Arguably the most important, resource on the planet, water is under constant threat from climate change and leaky infrastructure. Ironically, while sea levels are rising on one hand, water shortages are becoming increasingly common on the other.
When France’s biggest electricity distributor, Enedis, launched the “Linky Project” in 2017 to replace 35 million residential meters with smart meters, they were going beyond EU requirements to set the foundation for the country's future smart grid.
The convergence of information and communication technologies (ICT) and operational technologies in smart grids is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, ICT makes it possible to significantly improve grid reliability, security, and efficiency by facilitating information exchange, managing distributed generation and storage sources, while also enabling active participation of the end consumer. On the other hand, attackers can exploit the vulnerabilities of communication systems for financial or political gain.
With soaring energy prices and a looming energy crisis, we all face a tough winter ahead. Utilities too are facing multiple challenges from financial constraints, revenue protection and regulatory pressures as they serve an increasingly volatile market. More and more utilities are moving to service-based delivery models to make business processes more flexible, reduce technology risks, and minimize costs.
As Europe braces for the coming winter, governments and institutions have begun implementing plans and programs. What part can we play to cope with rising prices, energy austerity and manage energy better in our homes, workplaces and beyond?
