Long range wide area network (LoRaWAN) operator Netmore Group has been selected to exchange 1.3 million water meters across the Yorkshire, U.K., region in what is claimed to be one of the largest internet of things (IoT) projects in Europe.
Under the deal, Yorkshire Water will exchange existing meters that are reaching the end of their operational life with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). These meters are designed to improve service, enhance customer support and usage efficiencies. The contract will include an initial five years of service plus data services for the meters installed through 2045.
The meters will be connected to Netmore’s LoRaWAN network for data-as-a-service to Yorkshire Water. Netmore will also deploy and densify network coverage in the region directly.
The exchange will run concurrently with smart meter deployments that began in 2022 when Netmore was awarded a separate AMI by Yorkshire Water for the delivery of LoRaWAN network services for meters up to 360,000 households.
“The initial smart metering program with Netmore launched in 2022 has helped Yorkshire Water deliver the first 500,000 litres of leakage reduction, by identifying water leakage on customers pipes,” said Adam Smith, manager of smart networks and metering transformation at Yorkshire Water. “It has also helped us to better understand water demand patterns in our initial 25,000 Netmore smart meters and target water efficiency activity, all while delivering both operational value and the long-term perspective needed for the expansion of our AMI initiatives.”
Why it matters
LoRaWAN is one of the leading networks for industrial IoT because it provides bidirectional communication. When incorporated into a water meter, this opens functions that cannot be accomplished with traditional water meters.
When combined with an IoT sensor, LoRaWAN-enabled water meters can perform a variety of functions:
- Measure water consumption
- Provide real-time usage data
- Control valves remotely
- Earlier leak detection
- Analyze usage patterns
- Transmit water data wireless up to 10 miles
- Integrate with third party systems
- Assess risks and perform predictive maintenance
The technology also is interoperable with open protocols like M-Bus and DLMS as well as other major metering standards. The network can also be used in public, private or hybrid infrastructures.
The global smart metering market is expected to grow to $13.7 billion this year, up from $9.5 billion in 2018, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%, according to IoT Analytics. Of this, utilities are estimated to remain the largest vertical market for LPWAN during this period. The growth in the sector will be driven by the fast adoption of LPWAN in smart metering.
