Photo: EET
Austrian startup Efficient Energy Technology (EET) has developed an electricity metering solution called the Virtual Meter, which measures residential electricity consumption through a single connection within the home’s power network. The device, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), eliminates the need for a conventional hardwired meter, reduces system complexity for home energy storage and heat pumps, and provides real-time consumption data, the company claims.
The Virtual Meter, which can be integrated directly into any home energy device through a standard socket or any point on the home’s power network, deduces the total energy consumption accurately, reliably, and in real time, according to EET.
AI-powered Virtual Meter derives and delivers consumption data in under one second
The device uses AI-powered load identification to measure the total net electrical load of the entire home on single-phase or three-phase residential grid connections, with data delivered in under one second. It can be plugged in anywhere via a standard earthed wall socket or a wired connection, requiring a physical link to only one phase.
Instead of directly measuring current, the Virtual Meter continuously observes the voltage of one phase and detects the tiny changes that occur whenever a device switches on or off on any of the three phases of a household, the company explains. In this way, it infers the home’s total consumption.
The solution reduces the costs and complexity of home batteries and heat pumps
The Virtual Meter reduces system complexity and installation and component costs for manufacturers of devices such as home batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps, home energy management systems (HEMS), and other residential energy products, delivering a smoother, more transparent experience for end-customers.
The solution is compatible with all common grid configurations and utility meter types, and its design ensures interruption-free data availability, EET says, adding that the Virtual Meter can be integrated directly into other energy products or used as a standalone solution.
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