INTRODUCTION
Mobile networks are becoming the main infrastructure in developing markets from metropolitan areas to rural communities, and more individuals now have connectivity to power on the basis of mobile networks (Gungor, Sahin, Kocak, Ergüt & Buccella, 2011). In 2013, there was an approximate GSM penetration of more than one in three Africans with at minimum 1 mobile subscription and 76% of the populace in Africa (over 700 million inhabitants) (Andresen, 2016). The increase in mobile usage is in contrast to the shortage of essential infrastructure access: an approximate 32% of the total populace has electronics, leaving nearly 600 million individuals lacking electric power (Covrig, Ardelean & Vasiljevska, 2014).
The growing popularity of mobile services offers energy service provider’s urban domestic utilities and small town energy service corporations as well as governments an increasing chance to exploit GSM networks and technologies to significantly enhance and broaden energy services to multiple dimensions (Oksman & Zhang, 2011). Innovative intelligent systems, including smart meters and mobile supporting software, can be utilized to transfer data between telecom operators, applications and consumers more efficiently and reliably. Smart meters can enable energy suppliers to enhance their link operations through wireless connectivity and efficient accounting procedures (Dominiak, Andersson, Maurer & Sendin, 2012). Mobile enabling technologies can deliver dramatically enhanced customer connectivity, data processing systems and remote bill transaction. As such, energy telecom companies will overcome the main problems they face through elimination of failures and cost recovery to maintain quality services and bring new consumers (Parikh, Kanabar & Sidhu, 2010). Therefore this essay aim at explaining smart energy solutions and it functions, the major advantage of the use of smart solutions, Smart Grid and the deployment of smart metering infrastructure.
SMART ENERGY SOLUTIONS
In almost every area of technology, information and communication technologies (ICT) are becoming more and more used (Celidonio, Di Zenobio, Fionda, Pulcini & Sergio, 2013). The 'smart' phenomenon is generally motivated by the objective of gaining greater influence over technological procedures, choices and communication (Bliek et al. (2010). Bletterie et al. (2012) defines smart energy solutions as follows: any energy solution identified as 'smart' that has temperature-measuring semiconductor detectors and/or other variables; obtain and transfer data communication; data storage memory chips; and energy management chips, micro regulators and microprocessors to modify energy loads (Verbeeck et al., 2014). Smart communication systems can increase the power access via distant location surveillance and regulation of devices, as well as current transaction platforms and customer involvement to resolve the primary hurdles of energy suppliers (Ahonen, Marttila, Dukeov & Jalas, 2017). The term 'smart solutions' refers to the suite of ICT facilities, including GSMs, which can be applied to transmit data more easily and effectively to providers, operating systems and customers (Strengers, 2013). This provides single or two-way intelligent meters and activated services, such as remote transactions and billing notifications, to boost customer’s commitment (Brandt, 2016). With such smart systems, the basic features and technologies may differ among utility and Energy Service Company (ESCO) networks covering the two energy distribution models from local to metropolitan settings. According to Koomey, Scott & Williams (2013), the two compelling advantages provided to solve issues with smart energy solutions are; 1 ) increase awareness of energy transfers and use via remote surveillance and tracking, and 2) boosting the efficiency of billing via mobile apps.
We are in a time period where almost anything is now asked to be smart (Geelen, Kempen, Hoogstraten & Liotta, 2012). Smart materials, smart devices, Smartphone’s, smart grid and smart metering are a few case studies. It is necessary to bring this into alignment with smart energy solutions in terms of the energy portfolio (Margelis, Piechocki, Kaleshi & Thomas, 2015).
Smart energy solutions are required in order to shift the path of operation in energy concerns, spanning the overall energy spectrum within five main categories: energy baselines and principles, energy resources, power generation, energy transformation, and energy conservation, so that the solution of energy is smart (Lindmark & Hakansson, 2013). The continued transition on the supply edge towards renewable energy solutions on both the central grid as well as smart devices will be required to support smart energy solutions (Feltin et al., 2011). Smart energy solutions may also offer customers with ways of reducing expenses in several aspects: by adjusting demand, by improving knowledge and automation, and by trying to be end users (Schrenk, Wasserburger, Music, & Dörrzapf, 2013).
This smart communication technology has help address the major difficulties of energy suppliers and properly grasp and react to the energy requirements of final consumers (Hilty, 2013). The domestic meter and mobile service necessary to process customers are the principal elements of a smart solution. Arnold, van Baal, Demary & Schiffer, (2013) asserted that while solutions in the on-grid and off-grid regions will vary, the major advantage of the use of smart solutions includes:
i. Improving billing efficiency: An inefficient bill payment structure is a major hurdle for suppliers of electricity which leads to manual collection, income leakage attributable to a complete absence of gathering public accountability, and impoverished debt payment rates. A smart billing solution allows the supplier to supervise cash payment and guarantee payments whilst also providing the final consumer with an effective method of paying for the service before or after payment of energy accounts.
ii. Greater consumer understanding: Most electricity suppliers actually have to come to their residence to read meters and test or support decentralized solutions on-grid and off-grid. Mobile network surveillance and control by smart meters increases transparency on consumer use and demand, making unauthorized connectivity or early alert mechanisms more easily detected when faced with technological problems and for customers' mobile shutdown.
Case Study
To create the Smart Site Solution, a solution which digitalizes and connects intelligent network systems, Huawei has incorporated IT and connection technologies with Power Electronics (Cremer, 2018). The solution includes architecture for software-determined power (SDP) that enables users operates 'Watt with bit.' The solution is built upon Huawei's considerable experience in the growth and emphasis on customer requirements of the telecommunications networks (Blog, 2017).
The capacity of Huawei's telecoms range is between 30A and 24,000A. Strengthening devices include indoor, outdoor, integrated and central office (CO) systems. It includes DPS, hybrid energy, as well as an energy management framework at the site (Arjun, 2019). Huawei telecommunications power brands are easily adapted to various telecommunications networks. They also provide interconnected power solutions for smart video surveillance systems and solutions for tower vendor site sharing (Peter, Sheridan & Todd, 2019). Huawei’s solutions optimize the installation of sites, enhance energy capacity of networks and boost O&M. In addition, Huawei technologies enable users unlock the potential of their domains and increase their ownership value (TVO) (Karishma, 2019). In over 170 nations, Huawei has deployed more than 2 million telecommunications devices. Huawei has also been awarded with a range of industrially recognized awards, including the Telecom Energy Solutions Product Innovation Leadership Award, the DC Power Global Product Leadership Award and the 98% Efficiency Recommended Excellent Solution Award (Jevans, 2019).
Smart Grid
"Smart Grid" refers to a totally developed and modern electric power supply system, where the functions of its interrelated activities are monitored, protected and optimized (Huawei, 2019). The framework incorporates central and transmitted generators via a high-voltage grid and a low-voltage supply chain system, industrial operators and housing systems, energy storage facilities, as well as end-users and their thermostats (The Economist, 2019).
The two-way stream of power and relevant data to develop a computerized, widespread energy supply network will describe Smart Grid. It integrates into the grid the advantages of dispersed information technology and information exchange in order to provide real - time information to sustain energy supply and demand (Garcia & Kelly, 2016).
Intelligent meters are just one item, many of which will shape the future smart grid (GSMA, 2014). The introduction of the Smart Grid is led by Ontario across Canada. By the end of 2008, already well over 1 million smart meters had been built and the data that businesses (like Hydro One, Toronto Hydro etc.) would use in order to supply their clients with moment-of-use accounting would soon be provided (GSMA, 2016). Smart grid is seen as an emerging power engineering technology which is close to our everyday lives. ICTs can instantaneously save quite a good share of human energy usage in order to effectively reduce energy transportation failure (Palvia, Baqir & Nemati, 2015).
DEPLOYMENT OF SMART METERING INFRASTRUCTURE
It is almost a century now that information is sent over power lines, known as Power Line Communications (PLC) (Panula-Ontto et al., 2018). Originally designed for very Low-Frequency (LF) data transmission, it has expanded significantly and been utilized for many residential and commercial applications on HV grid, medium-voltage, and low-voltage (LV) networks, mainly for high-voltage (HV) telemetry purposes (Mallet, Granstrom, Hallberg, Lorenz, Mandatova, 2014). Distribution System Operator (DSO) select the LV power grid as the means to communicate with smart meters as they implement smart metering infrastructure. For many purposes, Power Line Communications (PLC) has been selected; especially as the DSOs remain fully controlled by the sharing of information, simplifying the confidentiality and management of data protection (Kakran & Chanana, 2018). As the requirement for telecommunications services is not met, operation costs are reduced and the DSO (grid) significantly contributes to its resources, having a comprehensive process improvement over the smart metering network. In addition, in some situations, the contact in areas not protected by other technologies is the simplest and most effective way (Corral, Selga & Zaballos, 2010)
The most important technology for this was LF band (NBPL) PLC technologies (Galli, Scaglione & Wang, 2011). Several more advanced NBPL technologies have been created and planned to tackle intelligent measurement in the early 2000s (Chen et al. (2013). The LF bands and OFDM modulations were first published in 2008. The layer capabilities in Spain, France and Italy are higher than 100 kbps and are utilized on large rollouts. The broadband PLC or BPL is a type of PLC with a higher capacity, which was originally launched at the beginning of the 2000s (Sendin, Pena & Angueira, 2014). In recent times the smart metering was also included in this study, due to the obvious increase in capacity and the introduction of a variety of fascinating design elements, which allow all smart grids to provide service that is required beyond calculation (Andresen, 2009).
Huge deployments demonstrate that about 5% of meters are not fully functional after using PLC smart metering devices (not connecting or read seamlessly) (Messervey et al. 2013). Nonetheless, PLC remains the best system to use as it is straightforward to completely install the entire Smart Metering – holding capital and operational costs significantly lesser than substitutes with sufficient network maintenance and operational services (Feltin et al., 2011). Smart meters that are not working may be caused by non-PLC-specific reasons such as system crash or application development issues. But this is also due to communication difficulties, such as noise, attenuations, changes in loads, etc. (Schrenk, Wasserburger, Music & Dörrzapf, 2013).
PLC smart metering is essential to services. PLC's smart metering broadband network is communication standard and requires network regular inspection (including management, upgrading and operational activities), as is the case with any other communications network, to improve costs while maintaining high performance of the network (Bletterie, Kadam, Stifter & Abart, 2012). This is particularly the case when the useful channel for exchanging information is not constructed and distributed with other instruments, such as the power grid, that inject signals (or noise) (Cremer, 2018).Even though network services are component of the operational frameworks for telecommunications, such as smart metering, some parties are not familiar with this and choose not to operate the network (Lindmark. & Hakansson, 2013).
We can only understand that smart meters networks are not completely plug-and-play and demand network management and operational resources until they are well into the rollout (where they usually concentrate on capital expenditures and do not concentrate on activity optimization) (Parikh, Kanaba & Sidhu, 2010). These decision makers genuinely think that smart measurement networks need not be sustained and full functionality and comprehensibility is reached from day one. Infact, it is possible that the resulting functionality and comprehensibility are erroneously high in a little smart metering pilot (Margelis, Piechocki, Kaleshi & Thomas, 2015). When 20% of meters are not comprehensible fluently in large deployments, 80% are readable. For an environment with very high comprehensibility, a small pilot might very well occur simultaneously (Bliek et al., 2010). However, as described before, real big roll-outs indicate that the plug-and - play systems and communications networks is not complete (Bletterie et al. (2012). PLC’s smart metering systems deliver new qualities as well as reducing operational and management costs. These current principles include the influence of non-technical failures, load balance, real time readings, early detection of defects and self-healing networks. Some of such added benefits are best delivered with BPL (Koomey, Scott & Williams, 2013).
CONCLUSION
In sub-Saharan Africa, companies, the government and other interested parties still fully appreciate the business case for smart metering. A transformation methodology can be the smartest way to effectively implement and upgrade the territory to smart power authorized solutions, providing it the required amount of time to recognize the correct business strategy for the country with the buying power of populaces and available infrastructure ranging from urban to remote communities being taken into account. Where smart technologies is not commercially viable yet, the necessity to enhance accessibility to the energy in the medium to long term is necessary to maximize the volume of connections, which combined with conventional prepaid measurements and to smart powered services (payment and customer service) could be adequately addressed. The mobile network operator (MNO) will play a significant role by enhancing electricity supply across a range of services-from the connectivity to the customer interface-as one of the strongest energy provider’s alliances in resolving the existing gap with the customer.
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