FairBox differs from a standard electricity meter? (Hardware)
The FairBox
- measures both the load current and the injected PV power
- contains an updatable controller with security chip
- contains a load breaker per consumer phase
includes radio modems for GSM, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
What features should the Fair Grid software have?
- Frequency analysis for load shutdown and feed-in control
- Management of PV systems with registration, feed-in tariff and curtailment
- Balance between power consumption and power supply
- Allow for different electricity tariffs
- Determine electricity cost and forward information to a smart phone
- Record power consumption and power supply, detect large power consumers ("power guzzlers") and record them separately
- Cashless payment may be made using Blockchain technology
- Perform updates
What's new or innovative about FairGrid?
In FairGrid networks, an intelligent electricity meter with high functionality is used instead of the household electricity meter. FairGrid integrates various successful and effective techniques and procedures into one device:
- Consumer shutdown by frequency is performed in special applications in European power grids
- Electricity meter with PV input has every house with a PV system in Europe
- Countries that allow net metering show a rapid growth of solar capacity
- Progressive tariffs for social compensation or promoting PV growth already exist in some countries
- Consumption display on smart phones are slowly coming to private homes
- Payment via smart phones brings transparency to payment transactions in some countries like Sweden and Kenya.
FairGrid is a combination of Demand Side Management with autonomous control in one device, the FairBox.
Is it possible to test FairGrid?
All components of FairGrid are state of the art. However, the FairBox needs suitable software for a pilot test. Due to the self-sufficient and decentralized approach, an isolated grid for a pilot plant can be relatively small.
How is a FairGrid secured against "electricity hijacking"?
Electricity theft harms the electricity suppliers and subsequently all electricity customers. The FairBox is installed centrally on the last power pole in front of the buildings. The distance between the power pole with the FairBox and the building is laid in a shielded cable with protective voltage. If the protective voltage is changed, a silent alarm signal is sent to the grid operator.
In addition, main electricity meters are used for partial network areas. If necessary, the partial consumption of the customers and the total consumption can be compared.
How is FairGrid protected against fraud?
Each FairBox works autonomously and does not require internet for normal operation. Necessary updates, however, are transmitted centrally from the maintenance centre using an encrypted GSM modem and SIM card to the FairBoxes, which are equipped with security chip.
For security, updates of the FairBox software are only possible through an headquarter and can be ordered there. In separate information tunnels, the consumption information is sent to the local service centres of the network service providers. Information from network operators to customers, on the other hand, is transmitted directly to the customer's smart phone. In the FairBox, the administrative areas and areas accessible to customers, such as the consumption overview, are completely separated.
Special requirements due to the operational conditions must be observed?
- High temperature and humidity
- High level of surges and spikes
- Mechanical robustness
- Low price