Smart Metering - Use cases

How new technologies support utilities in the grid transition towards green gases and hydrogen, with efficiency, safety, and comfort at the core of the solution.

Hera S.p.A (Holding Energia Risorse Ambiente) is a multiutility company based in Bologna, Italy. Hera operates in the distribution of gas, water, energy, and waste disposal in the North of Italy. The company has used its smart gas meter solution, NexMeter, since 2019.

Safety for the use of hydrogen

The smart gas meter constantly monitors the functionality by checking the supply and main pressure, with any excess or shortfall being reported immediately. It indicates any kind of gas leak: not only large, short-term losses due to breakage or voluntary damage, but also smaller, continuous leaks that customers might overlook right away. It can thus interrupt supply in case of irregularities, making the system safe. Furthermore, it detects tremors caused by earthquakes in real-time and interrupts gas supply improving safety.

NexMeter "smart" and precise

Not only is NexMeter "smart" and precise, but it's also a green assistant that will help cut spending for consumption. Thanks to its ability to detect even slight gas leaks and signal them to users, NexMeter contributes to reducing the cost of bills.

The specific monitoring and warning tools with which it is provided allow it to prevent accidents in a range of situations, offering greater protection to buildings and citizens along the lines of electric circuit breakers.

By eliminating leaks, indeed, it also reduces methane dispersion, which is highly pollutant, while the entire process of optimising gas network management has a positive effect on the performance and emissions of many devices, first and foremost hot water heaters.

Read more here: The Hera Group presents NexMeter, the meter with the future in the mind: innovation and safety (gruppohera.it)

Combining multiple benefits into one solution, even in challenging environments: how Tokyo Gas improved the distribution of natural gas and hydrogen on a wide scale.

Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. founded in 1885, is the primary provider of natural gas to the main cities of Tokyo. As of 2012, Tokyo Gas is the largest natural gas utility in Japan and was using residential microcomputer gas meters that monitored the gas flow mechanically. These gas meters are limited in their capabilities as they only can detect natural gas.

New technologies are needed to expand the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. Compact and highly reliable gas meters that feature the ability to communicate to the gas companies automatically are required. Furthermore, the safety aspect of new gas meters is critical, especially in an earthquake-prone area as densely populated as Tokyo.

Smart gas metering devices

By developing the ultrasonic measurement for gas meters, Panasonic enables hydrogen blending (mixing hydrogen with natural gas) for a more sustainable energy supply. The industry's first ultrasonic smart gas flow meter allows real-time measurement of the flow rate and concentration of hydrogen, even in highly humid environments. This flexible solution allows not only a greener gas supply, but also provides more accuracy, combined in a small but powerful package.

More importantly, the ultrasonic smart gas flow meter enhances safety because smaller and larger gas leaks can be monitored instantly, which leads to a more effective use of recourse and improves customer satisfaction. The smart gas meter, based on Panasonic's ultrasonic technology, is the solution that combines many benefits: future-proof in regard to the usage of hydrogen, enhanced safety in regard to leak detection and emergency cut-off, and comfort due to the communication and remote-access features. Tokyo Gas has introduced the ultrasonic smart gas meter in 2005 and successfully implemented this compact and safe solution for residential customers.

Read more here: Tokyo Gas: Technical Development ／ Smart society ／ Ultrasonic gas meter for residence (tokyo-gas.co.jp)