SparkMeter

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$80.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

The solution is directly implemented by SparkMeter personnel. The team travels globally meeting with utilities and end users, installing and maintaining microgrids.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Lumeter PAYG Technology.

Regions

Africa, Asia, North America

Manufacturing/Building Method

The solution uses a base station and meters, each one uses different manufacturing methods depending on the specific model.

Intellectural Property Type

Copyright

User Provision Model

Direct sales to utility companies (central grid utility or a microgrid developer)

Distributions to Date Status

SparkMeter is supporting connections in 22 countries. Of those, over a dozen countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are using their smart metering systems for microgrids.

Design Specifications

• Demand-Side Management and Tariffs
  • Smart Load Limiting
  • Unlimited, Fully Customizable Tariffs
• Revenue Protection and Loss Monitoring
• Real Time Monitoring and Control
  • Detailed technical & financial data
• Versatile Payments and Billing
  • Choose prepay or postpay – in one click
  • Versatile sales process
  • Full Traceability and Accountability
• Two Way Communications
  • Robust, local wireless network
  • Remote management

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Provided by the manufacturer

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

Unknown

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

• Reduce non-technical loss
• Increase availability and reliability
• Improve cost recovery and eliminate metering and billing costs

Vetted Performance Status

A utility can expect payback of <2 years consumers who use just 2 USD of electricity per month. A payback of <1 year is achievable when serving customers purchasing just 4 USD per month.

Safety

Unknown

Complementary Technical Systems

Data collected over SparkMeter's built-in wireless mesh network is uploaded over a low-bandwidth internet connection to SparkMeter’s cloud. Utilities can use ThunderCloud software application, to monitor system operations and set controls for load limiting, demand response, and pricing that synchronize with the meters on the ground. In addition to functionality in the cloud, the utility can login locally to a base station on the ground for full access to ThunderCloud software on-site with no internet connection.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Allows tariff customization to comply with local regulations.

Evaluation methods

The following aspects were evaluated:

Response times with real-time monitoring

Ability to detect instances of energy theft

Location of occurrences of energy theft

Savings on existing revenue protection programs

Rates of customer payment

Outages from brownouts and blackouts

Asset life of grid equipment, including transformers, substations, and inverters through reducing outages and restoration costs

Elimination of manual meter reading costs

Accuracy of customer meter reads and billing through automation

Effect on fraud and tampering of data on customer consumption and payments through our secure database

Other Information

Unknown