Our study highlighted that the EU gas smart meters roll-out is moving forward, but slower than originally outlined. All programs are designed around intrusive and in all cases analysed the responsible party for the implementation are the DSOs.
For the ‘last mile’ communication issue no single connectivity arrangement emerged as the preferred solution to serve the specific needs of gas wireless metering case. At wider system infrastructure level 2 alternative approaches are being embraced: a completely independent communications infrastructure dedicated to gas meters (mono-utility), or a common communications infrastructure for both electricity and gas smart metering, potentially integrating also water metering (multi-utility). At present, the multi-utility approach seems favoured.
On these bases, and on the basis of the technology trials carried out by the R&D team, the NINA 2.0 project has been split into three autonomous project lines: (1) NINA, the wireless clamp-on GAS meter (2) PINTA, the wireless clamp-on WATER meter (3) MARIA, the wireless data gateway. The NINA and PINTA sensors leverage on MARIA for transmitting data.