Posted on Friday, September 20, 2019 by Steen Schelle Jensen
Digitalisation delivers
Digitalisation of district heating has never been a hotter topic than it is right now. And why wouldn’t it be?
Opportunities for data-based optimisation are present throughout a utility’s entire value chain from production and distribution to administration and end-user services. Add to that the fact that district heating is under pressure to remain both competitive and attractive despite facing decreasing revenue combined with rising competition from alternative heat sources.
However, for the individual utility, the decision of whether to embrace or postpone digitalisation first and foremost comes down to quantifying the value it will bring in order to justify the necessary investment in both getting and utilising more frequent smart meter data.
A step-by-step journey
Among district heating utilities applying our remote reading system READy and analytics platform Heat Intelligence, we have seen clear and measurable results. These include a 12% reduction of pipeline losses, network temperatures lowered by 6-8 degrees and a 2,5% reduction of the annual heat production, all adding up to significant savings and increased competitiveness.
That said, smart metering is a step-by-step journey and no two utilities have the exact same starting point. High quality smart meters and reliable communication are the very foundation for any utility’s business, but the further you get, the more value your system can create in terms of minimised losses, reduced costs, more targeted investments and improved service to your customers.
For those about to invest in the next generation of metering systems, perhaps the biggest challenge is, therefore, choosing a supplier who will cover your needs throughout that entire journey.
Choosing
the right supplier
At Kamstrup, we offer everything from the meter itself to the communication
that enables efficient data collection, the software that allows smooth billing
and great customer service, and finally advanced analytics bringing your data
to life by delivering measurable results. We can even take responsibility for operating your meter park for you,
so you can focus your time and efforts on utilising the meter data you get from heat meter reading.
We have a proven track record of delivering results, but even more important is our strategic focus on innovation. As a result, 25% of our workforce is in product development including 20 employees dedicated to working exclusively on analytics to ensure that we will continue maximising the value our customers get from their meter data in the future.
What is the next step on your smart metering journey?
Be
inspired at kamstrup.com
This article was first published in the Swedish magazine Tidningen Energi the 13th of September, 2019