Machine-to-machine communication can reduce energy, resource uses

25th October 2013

By: Schalk Burger

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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The crunch of energy and resources arising from economic and population growth can be reduced through the use of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, says cellular major Vodacom Enterprise Business Unit executive head of sales Tony Smallwood.

M2M will enable utilities and municipalities to manage their resources better and will enable individuals to manage their use of resources, such as water and electricity, more effectively.

M2M communication requires basic telecommunication, which can be done over Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications in Africa. GSM is the dominant form of tele- communication on the continent and can be supported by large-scale fibre optics backbones to provide the pervasive wireless communications necessary to manage millions of devices connected in a smart system, he says.

“The crunch between low supply and high demand for energy is no different on the African continent, compared with the rest of the world, and this is causing the prices of energy and electricity to rise rapidly, which is a significant driver to manage resources and use better through M2M,” Smallwood explains.

The first phase of an M2M resource management system will measure energy consumption. Once users understand how and why energy is consumed, the system can then be used to manage energy use. Many of the functions of an M2M system can be automated and set within parameters, enabling machines to manage energy use automatically, based on rules that can also be updated when required.

Further, an M2M system can also be used to manage the variable power provided by alter- native energy sources and renewable energy. It can also help manage the effects of these variable sources on a continent that is rich in renewable solar resources, but energy poor, says Smallwood.

“Using an M2M system will enable society to understand how much power alternative energy sources can deliver. An M2M system can also be used to manage private household renewable-energy generation that is fed into the electricity grid, should private generation be allowed in future. If not, an M2M system can still report on how much generation is being displaced by private generation,” he says.

Further, a GSM network can carry M2M communication because most of the intelligence will be housed on board the devices and machines, with only status and update data having to be sent.

Although M2M communication is taking place, it is mostly being applied in the industrial and financial sectors. However, the ubiquity of mobile networks and connectivity will increase M2M use.

This is part of the process to develop smart grids, electricity distribution grids that react to load changes and smart cities, in which all city systems, from monitoring and traffic systems to municipal functions, share data to deliver intelligent management of changes in the city, be they traffic, electricity, water or customer services, he adds.

Smart electricity meters in houses, house automation systems, smart building management, and smart car and traffic management will be some of the first uses of an M2M system, alongside utility smart grid systems and accurate municipal billing.

“Let us start measuring and monitoring today to understand what and why we are consuming and then use energy more efficiently, which will create additional energy supply. These three steps are critical in the value chain and [because we do not] understand our energy consumption and are not improving efficiency, we are reducing the money available for investment in alternative energy sources,” he concludes.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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