Landis+Gyr has completed upgrades to the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) at Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) so smart meters can act as a communication hub connecting gas and water meters, EV chargers, battery storage and solar panel inverters.

Tepco and Landis+Gyr have worked closely to bring these upgrades, including the migration of the system onto virtualised IT infrastructure without disrupting services to numerous retail utilities. These retail utilities receive meter readings every 30 minutes from Tepco to forecast energy demands.

The firmware upgrades will allow DERMS providers and asset owners to meter other assets, including distributed energy resources (DERs) across Tepco’s distribution network. Additionally, it will allow DERMS providers and asset owners to control such assets through Tepco’s AMI while maintaining security and privacy.

The system employs Wi-Sun Enhanced HAN standards-based open technology, which lets device and communication module providers participate in the ecosystem with low investment. This is one of the first commercial applications of this standard globally.

Moving forward, Landis+Gyr will continue to work with Tepco (www.tepco.co.jp) to transition to an AMI system. The companies intend to collaborate closely on a system-wide upgrade to a Wi-Sun FAN and cellular-based network, resulting in a standards-based, open technology.

The project will add more bandwidth and flexibility to the system, unleashing the full capability of Wi-Sun and increase interoperability with other technologies, while lowering costs and encouraging innovation. The expanded product ecosystem that results will accelerate the path towards a smart energy future while enhancing what it says is the largest AMI and IoT platform in the world.

Landis+Gyr has certified its Revelo grid sensing platform, along with the network router, to the Wi-Sun FAN 1.1 specification for field area networks. Revelo was the first grid sensing platform to achieve Wi-Sun FAN 1.0 certification and now is the first to achieve FAN 1.1 certification, unlocking the next level of interoperability for utility network applications.

The FAN 1.1 specification introduces support for higher and dynamic data rates and expands geographic coverage capabilities, while keeping backwards compatibility with FAN 1.0 certified devices.

More details about FAN 1.1 can be found at wi-sun.org/blog/introducing-wi-sun-fan-1-1-empowering-sustainable-secure-and-interoperable-iot-networks.

“I’m proud to be part of this milestone,” said Marcos Aguirre, portfolio manager at Landis+Gyr and a member of the executive committee at the Wi-Sun Alliance. “Wi-Sun FAN 1.1 introduces features on top of FAN 1.0 which will unlock a more flexible, resilient, interoperable and future-proofed network. Being among the first to offer Wi-Sun FAN 1.1 certified products reflects Landis+Gyr’s commitment to our customers. By continuing to offer flexibility and choice for our utility partners, our leading grid edge technology adapts to the evolving needs of the market, ensuring utilities are equipped to address current and future challenges.”

Wi-Sun’s FAN certification programme provides compliance testing of network components and devices to a communications profile developed from applicable open standards and certifies the product’s ability to interoperate. All Wi-Sun certified products are tested by a third-party test lab to ensure the devices work together effortlessly and securely. Certified devices include a digital certificate to authenticate entry to a Wi-Sun FAN network, which significantly reduces vulnerability to cyber security threats.

Massachusetts-based Sense, a specialist in grid edge intelligence, and Landis+Gyr are working with the semiconductor industry to bring 1MHz sampling to the Revelo grid sensing platform.

“Utilities are under increasing pressure to maintain safety, reliability and efficiency, while adapting to a more complex grid,” said Mike Phillips, CEO of Sense (sense.com). “When 1MHz processing is combined with on-meter AI, utilities get real-time visibility and actionable intelligence, including the ability to detect arc faults and other safety threats before they escalate.”

With sales of $2bn in 2023, Landis+Gyr (www.landisgyr.com) employs around 6900 people across five continents.