Silicon Labs Powers Probus’ Digital Transformation of Energy Distribution in India
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Founded in 2017, Probus Smart Things is on a mission to digitize India’s energy distribution grids by empowering electricity utilities, reducing distribution losses, and contributing to the nation’s Net Zero objectives.
Through its innovative communication technologies and advanced data analytics, Probus has positioned itself as a leader in smart energy solutions. Its comprehensive offerings span end-to-end monitoring of the energy grid, from 66kV sub-station sensors through consumer smart meters to large-scale solar plant monitoring.
課題
Despite India’s energy surplus, inefficient distribution networks result in significantly high annual losses. The country’s smart metering initiative under the Government of India’s flagship RDSS program sets out to change this by replacing 250 million conventional meters with prepaid smart meters by 2027.
ソリューション
The implementation of such a large-scale program faces multiple challenges, including unreliable cellular network connectivity and stringent service level agreements (SLAs). Customer reconnection is crucial for prepaid smart metering, and to achieve 100% SLA compliance, Probus introduced a Dual Communications NIC card with Cellular as primary and Bluetooth as a secondary medium of communication.
その結果
The solution has improved deployment speed, enhanced connectivity reliability, and gained widespread adoption in India’s smart metering initiatives for cellular deployments.
India’s Energy Sector Distribution Challenges
Despite an energy surplus, India loses approximately $26 billion annually due to inefficiencies in its distribution network. With a staggering 17% distribution loss, the government launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to modernize the grid and reduce these losses.
However, smart metering applications face several design challenges that need to be addressed. Connectivity issues are a common hurdle because cellular networks can be unreliable in certain areas, resulting in delayed meter reconnections and gaps in data availability. Additionally, customer experience plays a crucial role, especially in prepaid metering systems, where immediate reconnections after payment are essential to maintain satisfaction and ensure scalability & reliability. Technological constraints also pose difficulties, as many existing communication solutions lack flexibility, forcing utilities to invest in head-end systems tied to specific Network Interface Card (NIC) providers, thereby reducing deployment speed and adaptability. Finally, meeting demanding Service Level Agreements (SLAs) is critical for ensuring prompt customer reconnections, which is a key factor in improving reliability and customer trust.
Probus Addresses These Issues with a First-of-its-Kind Solution for Smart Meter Technology
Probus Smart Things Private Limited, a leader in innovative communication and AI-driven data analytics solutions, to revolutionize smart metering technology through the adoption of a Universal Network Interface Card (NIC) with Bluetooth-enabled communication.
The Universal NIC, designed to enhance smart metering capabilities, represents a breakthrough in the energy sector by enabling reliable and efficient communication even in the absence of primary networks. Key features include:
Dual-Channel Connectivity
- The NIC offers 4G as the primary channel and Bluetooth as the secondary channel. This ensures cellular reliability while enabling Bluetooth fallback for offline meter interaction in areas with poor connectivity.
- The innovative Bluetooth Mesh capability transforms meters into local gateways, allowing data from meters with poor cellular signals to piggyback through neighboring meters with better connectivity.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Bluetooth-enabled communication ensures meter data collection and operations like reconnection/disconnection in challenging network conditions.
- Multi-Point Star & Mesh Connectivity: A robust network availability-checking algorithm supports seamless communication through neighboring meters.
End-to-End Ecosystem
- Probus partnered with leading meter manufacturers to integrate their NICs for India's leading utilities such as Tata Power.
- The system comprises hardware (NICs), HES, Network Monitoring System, and supportive tools, including work-order management apps and consumer mobile applications.
- Integration with Mobile Applications: The NIC is designed to integrate effortlessly with utility's and consumer mobile applications to provide improved user experience and connect with meter in a non-intrusive way
User Empowerment
- With Bluetooth-enabled meters, energy customers can directly connect via their smartphones for tasks like meter reconnections, recharging, and diagnostics.
- Seamless integration ensures unprecedented customer satisfaction, particularly for pre-paid metering applications.
Field-Proven Reliability
- The NIC’s high-level security and standardization ensure uniformity across different meter manufacturers. Dual-communication capability guarantees 100% reconnections, even in challenging operational conditions.
Lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCOO) in the Industry
- The dual communications NIC provides the lowest cost of ownership to all system Integrators as it guarantees 100% reconnections and 99.9% SLAs without manual interventions with lowest recurring cellular costs due to the availability of Bluetooth Star/mesh.
Probus’ Dual Communications NIC has advanced India’s smart metering landscape by ensuring reliable data access, even in remote or low-connectivity areas. By combining cellular and Bluetooth technologies, it bridges connectivity gaps, making smart metering viable across diverse regions. This solution has gained widespread acceptance, with leading utilities like Tata Power and Torrent Power adopting it in their RDSS-backed projects. Its acceptance has driven scalability and encouraged nationwide adoption.
The technology enhances efficiency for both customers and utility providers. Prepaid electricity users benefit from instant reconnections after payments, improving their overall experience. Meanwhile, providers can deploy meters faster and operate more efficiently, meeting service-level agreements with ease.
Why Silicon Labs BG27 Bluetooth SoC?
Probus’ innovation was powered by Silicon Labs’ BG27 Bluetooth® SoC, a state-of-the-art solution designed for battery-powered IoT applications. Silicon Labs has been a trusted partner of Probus since 2019, and their ongoing technical collaboration has been pivotal to Probus’ success.
Key Features of the BG27:
Memory and Processing Power
- The BG27 offers extended RAM and Flash memory, making it ideal for Probus’ resource-intensive applications like DLMS protocols and mesh networking.
Optimized Power Consumption
- Designed for 2.4GHz mesh communication, the BG27 ensures low-power operation without compromising range or performance.
強化型セキュリティ
- Silicon Labs’ Secure Vault™ guarantees robust protection against cybersecurity threats, a critical requirement for smart energy systems.
Unmatched Support
- Probus praised Silicon Labs for their excellent technical support, speed of solution delivery, and flexibility throughout the product development cycle.
Future Innovations for India’s Smart Energy Systems
The partnership between Probus Smart Things and Silicon Labs lays the foundation for broader innovation in smart energy systems. With future-ready technologies like IPV6-based Wi-SUN solutions and applications in smart homes and industrial automation, the collaboration promises to advance India’s digital infrastructure even further.
Together, Probus and Silicon Labs are driving change, delivering smarter systems, and empowering utilities to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
