A new tool has been developed in Manchester to trial new energy innovation technologies on the Internet of Things (IoT) network that runs Britain’s national smart meter network.
The Data Communications Company’s (DCC) has developed the tool, dubbed DCC Boxed, at their operations centre in Manchester. The tool allows academic institutions and businesses to test for network compatibility in just a few days.
DCC runs the Europe’s largest secure data network and is responsible for the transfer of more than a billion pieces of data across 15 million smart meters each month.
Its Boxed technology can be used to trial net zero and energy efficiency innovations that could work with the smart meter network to support people with their energy use in the home.
Chris Barlow, innovation director at DCC, said: “Our team of highly-skilled technologists in Manchester have been developing this tool to ensure we can unlock the true capability of a digital energy network – something that will be hugely important as we work towards a more energy efficient and carbon-free future.
“Through the new tool, we can develop and test technology more quickly and flexibly than ever before, which will hopefully allow a faster rollout of systems that can help combat fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency. Manchester has long been known for its innovative spirit and we’re proud to play a part in this, especially innovation that will help green our nation.”
It was called DCC Boxed because it is a containerised copy of the entire smart meter network able to fit in a 4-inch square computer. The device gives the user a graphical user interface, an API interface, and is compatible with multiple opensource networking and automation tools. It has all the components necessary to interface with smart home devices, such as a Wi-Fi and Zigbee radios.
It was originally designed to help DCC customers improve their smart meter device compatibility, it is now being used to create innovative energy saving devices and technology to fight fuel poverty. As the smart meter network is highly secure, this allows designers to quickly and safely test equipment before it enters certification for the network. Any DCC customer can purchase a device at cost, and if innovators want to trial their devices, they should get in touch with the DCC team.
The University of Salford has been among the first to use the Boxed tool, testing the system at its state-of-the-art £16m Energy House 2.0 on its campus.
Boxed has been used by the university’s academic team to run tests on the Energy House’s smart meters, along with trailing a new connected temperature and humidity sensor.
For the first time, the data from in-home sensors has been combined with the data collected through the smart meter network.
The research is looking to establish the correlation between energy use and heat loss in homes. In the long-term, this could help to create systems that identify poorly insulated properties or homes at risk of falling into a state of disrepair.
Professor Richard Fitton, Technical Director of Energy House Labs at the University of Salford, said: “The research we’re doing today is helping inform how we build and adapt homes to be more energy efficient. Boxed enables us to get a more complete view of the home in a user-friendly way.”
