OpenWay®

Smart Grid Intelligence for Today’s Urban Landscapes » Multi-application Network Architecture

» Expansive Application Ecosystem

» Powerful Edge Computing

» Adaptive Communications Technology

OpenWay® has ArrivedIntroducing OpenWay - the new standard in grid communications and edge intelligence. Building on Itron’s proven and widely installed smart grid platform, OpenWay is the only solution on the market that provides adaptive communications technology and intelligence to devices at the edge of the network.

Grid devices, ranging from sensors to control equipment to smart meters, can now process, analyze, communicate and react in real-time. Adaptive Communications Technology enables devices to interact with each other while dynamically switching between Radio Frequency (RF) and Power Line Carrier (PLC) to ensure the fastest and most reliable communications path.

This breakthrough technology can also be customized by adding new applications to specific field devices, allowing for automated and localized decision-making that enables grid devices, applications and assets to work together in response to business needs and grid conditions.

Built on an open and standards-based IPv6 architecture that forms the foundation of an expansive application ecosystem, Itron OpenWay is future-proof and is the latest example of Itron’s commitment to a more resourceful world.

WHAT SETS ITRON OPENWAY APART…

Situational Awareness

Itron OpenWay enables grid devices and meters to “self-determine” their precise location on the distribution network (by feeder, line section, transformer, phase) and in relation to other assets. The inability to precisely and continually identify where each meter/device is on the distribution network has been the greatest impediment to implementing integrated smart grid use cases at the edge of the network. Adaptive communications and edge computing power solve this problem.

Speaking Multiple Languages

With peer-to-peer communication and the ability to present multiple client protocols simultaneously on the same device, OpenWay new embedded intelligence enables grid devices (DA, DER, smart meters, DR/Load Control, Home Automation, IoT) to speak multiple languages and interoperate with each other to solve business problems as never before.

Powerful Edge Computing

With unprecedented processing power at the endpoint running an embedded Linux operating system, OpenWay sets a new standard for edge intelligence in meters and field devices, enabling new, real-time applications -- such as real-time analytics and automated decision making -- in response to changing grid conditions.

ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY: THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

What if you could deploy a network that incorporated multiple communications technologies – both RF mesh and PLC – on the same chip or module? And no matter what, that module will always choose and utilize the most reliable and fastest communication path based on its location, network operating conditions, the nature of the application or data and required QoS. And what if this process of communication optimization happens dynamically, intelligently and continuously, at all levels of the network, for every link, every message and every device? This would change everything.

This vision of dynamic network and communication intelligence is now a reality. . Itron is pushing intelligence to the edge and delivering a game-changing communications technology on a global platform that utilizes a powerful microcontroller to drive a RF and PLC front end in a highly innovative software-defined radio solution that delivers dual-communication capability from the same chip at a very competitive price point.

The result is Adaptive Communications Technology for OpenWay, the next generation of communications technology that delivers seamless communications with smart meters and other grid devices with minimal network infrastructure (such as access points or field routers) while delivering what we call “assured connectivity.”

By intelligently finding and utilizing the best, fastest and most reliable communications path – whether RF, PLC or a combination of both – in every circumstance and at every level of the network, OpenWay’s new Adaptive Communications Technology virtually eliminates the costly compromises and performance trade-offs that utilities continually make in specifying a single communication technology to address the full diversity of their service territories and customer populations. And because it was designed on a global technology platform, OpenWay is also readily adaptable to support the specific communication standards and protocols in use in countries and regions throughout the world.

With the addition of OpenWay technology, the platform delivers a powerful smart metering and smart grid network solution that is ideally suited to take on the significant communications challenges of highly urbanized and dense metropolitan service environments, where high rises, concrete infrastructure and below-grade meter locations present formidable challenges to RF-only communications. The technology also provides an equally attractive solution for extended lower-density and rural environments of a utility’s service territory. This combination, this flexibility, is what makes the technology unique.

Most importantly, the reliability and adaptability of OpenWay means that the network assures connectivity and performance with minimal infrastructure, resulting in a very attractive cost of ownership.

EXTENDING GREATER VALUE

These new technologies – Adaptive Communications and Edge Computing -- were designed for Itron’s industry-leading OpenWay smart grid platform that already features multi-application IPv6 architecture, jointly developed by Itron and Cisco, the global leader in networking technology. Building on the multi-application network capabilities (network management, QoS, standardized security model) of the Itron-Cisco solution, OpenWay supports a continually expanding set of smart grid applications and technology partners, including distribution automation, real-time analytics at the edge, grid sensing and integration of distributed energy resources that substantially broaden the value stream of the network investment.

ITRON OPENWAY: CREATING NEW BUSINESS VALUE FOR TODAY’S CHALLENGES

Integration of Renewables

Precisely measure the aggregate amount of customer-generated electricity being put onto the grid under a single transformer or phase and automatically control smart inverters and other grid devices to stabilize local grid operations, maintain voltage and power quality, and prevent overloading of assets.

Network Reliability and Resiliency

Quickly detect exactly where and when faults have occurred and instantaneously interact with DMS system and other DA devices to isolate the trouble, reduce potential danger, and expedite restoration.

Revenue Assurance

The ability of a meter to know where it is on the distribution system (by transformer, phase, feeder) enables it utilize real-time edge analytics to compare energy delivered to customers vs energy delivered to the transformer to identify and pinpoint likely cases of energy theft in near real time.

Localized Demand Response

The network senses that several customers are charging electric vehicles under a single transformer during peak demand and initiates highly localized demand response, load control devices or distributed generation/storage to stabilize network and prevent transformer failure.

Engage Consumers

Empower a customer who wants to save money by enrolling in a prepayment program on the utility website. The system downloads prepayment software to that customer’s individual meter, actually changing its “personality” enabling the distribution service provider to provide customized service and value.

A Complete Solution

Itron OpenWay technology serves as the communication endpoint for grid devices and smart meteres on the Itron OpenWay platform. When deployed alongside Itron’s industry-leading Meter Data Management tool, as well as Itron Analytics software applications, the result is a complete data collection, data management and control solution that utilizes intelligence in the right place for smart metering and smart grid initiatives. Deploying a complete solution provides well-defined points of interoperability between systems, greatly simplifying and reducing integration costs and difficulties, so utilities can focus on creating business value.

EQUIPPED FOR THE FUTURE

The takeaway is clear: deploy a communication network solution that will support not only your smart metering requirements of today, but will also support the full spectrum of smart grid requirements if and when you need those capabilities tomorrow. OpenWay technology is ready for whatever the future will bring.

This technology from Itron fundamentally shifts the paradigm of smart metering and smart grid communications by eliminating a “once-size-fits-all” approach creating new value for utilities by reducing deployment cost, difficulty and risk and truly taking smart metering to smart grid.

While Itron strives to make the content of its marketing materials as timely and accurate as possible, Itron makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in, such materials. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose, is given with respect to the content of these marketing materials. © Copyright 2014 Itron. All rights reserved. AUW 7/14

Join us in creating a more resourceful world. To learn more visit itron.com

ITRON METERING SYSTEMS SINGAPORE PTE LTD47 Scotts Road #12-01/02 Goldbell Tower Singapore 228233

Phone: +65 6736 7060

OpenWay also extends capabilities to the emerging smart cities market by providing a multi-application architecture to address additional urban challenges such as energy efficiency, water conservation, streetlight monitoring, traffic and parking optimization.

Investing in OpenWay technology today will enable you to address your most pressing business challenges today, while preparing for what the future will bring.