Since October 2020 all new heating, water and electricity meters in the EU have had to be readable online. From January 1st, 2027, this applies to all consumption meters. There is a very good reason for this. The meters gather dynamic data about the energy consumption in every household, in order for the inhabitants and the utility companies to keep an eye on the resource consumption and the energy bill.

Associate Professor Anna Marszal-Pomianowska and her colleagues from BUILD, Department of the Built Environment conduct research into how the data flow from the thousands of meters can be utilized to make the energy system run as efficiently as possible.

Optimization benefits all

The utility companies can also use the data to develop more precise energy grids in the future. With the knowledge that can be extracted from the data, companies can make accurate predictions of energy consumption patterns in different types of homes and use that knowledge to dimension distribution grids for new buildings and residential areas. At the same time, dynamic data flow enables the companies to develop new services for the customers, helping them to reduce their energy consumption – for the benefit of everybody, emphasizes Anna Marszal-Pomianowska.

- For the consumers, this means that their long-term energy bills will become cheaper, because the utility companies acquire new tools that help them use their resources more efficiently. It is a win-win for both parties, she says.

Clever algorithms enable resource savings

Another potential in the large amounts of data is to use algorithms to quickly discover faults in the energy system and correct them before they amass serious damage and waste large amounts of resources. By comparing reports from plumbers with energy consumption data it is possible to recognize patterns in the energy fluctuations that occur because of known faults or breakdowns due to worn-out components. In this way, the problems can be identified quickly, saving resources and work hours for the plumbers. They no longer have to waste time trying to identify which components to fix or replace.

- The data shows the dynamic consumption of each household, which obviously means that certain patterns emerge over time. If those patterns are suddenly disrupted by a high consumption of energy or water, the system will be able to make a qualified guess as to whether this is due to a leak or a broken heat exchanger. This is something that you might not notice straightaway and takes time to investigate and fix, explains Anna Marszal-Pomianowska.

AAU collaborates with the district heating industy on the use of smart data in the projects FOREFRONT, PRELUDE og IEA Annex84.