ADD GRUP has joined the PRIME Alliance. The PRIME (PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution) project was launched by Iberdrola (Spanish utility giant with an 18 million customer base) to define a future-proof, PLC based, open standard telecommunications architecture to support the new AMM functionality. The PRIME Alliance includes smart grid communications providers, smart meter manufacturers, semiconductor manufacturers and integrators that share the same objective - development of a truly interoperable PLC based AMM solution. Openness of the PRIME solution and its focus on interoperability as a way to decrease costs in a competitive framework make it very attractive within the industry.

The main ADD GRUP’s driver for joining the PRIME Alliance was the possibility to extend the range of supported communication solutions and obtain interoperability with other manufacturers. ADD GRUP’s latest generation electricity meter - ADDAX Extra meter - supports several communication solutions such as FSK, S-FSK and OFDM, so it was decided to extend meter interoperability as well to the PRIME solution. The PLC module used in the meter and PRIME firmware is based on the solution from Texas Instruments - ADD GRUP’s partner and member of PRIME Alliance. We see our partnership with PRIME Alliance as mutually advantageous. Each new meter manufacturer entering the Alliance enlarges the number of interoperable market players which is one of the crucial requirements of the utility companies worldwide.

Trying to build a communication network utilities have to consider many aspects including network coverage, information flow delay, amount of transmitted data, fraud etc. All these factors together with the huge amount of metering points to be replaced during next 10 years bring utilities to the most obvious communication network choice - Power Line - that excludes costs for additional infrastructure and significantly reduces operational costs in the frames of mass roll out of smart metering technologies.
There are a number of modulation schemes that can be used in PLC such as FSK, S-FSK, BPSK, DCSK, OFDM, etc. The PRIME Alliance has developed a PLC solution based on OFDM that provides following benefits:

AMI systems benefits

• More detailed profiles and energy quality information
• Online communication with meters
• Remote meters firmware update via PLC
• Instant alarms notification

Integration of end devices into the IP network

• Routing-only architecture possible
• Well-defined protocols and services
• Less interoperability and interconnectivity problems
• Existing network management systems

New applications

• Security systems
• Control systems

Future proof

• Ready for new market demands