Huawei and Landis+Gyr team up for UK smart meter market

Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) giant Huawei has teamed up with smart-meter solutions leader Landis+Gyr to penetrate the UK market. The two will jointly develop smart metering and smart grid solutions for commercial launch from mid-2012. The UK Department for Energy and Climate Change wants every home and business in the UK to be fitted with a smart meter by 2019. This will pave the way for the development of a low-carbon “smart grid”.

Landis+Gyr and Huawei’s immediate focus will be to support the UK roll-out through their joint development of a universal communications hub that will provide a common solution for homes. A joint innovation centre and product development plan will be set up to pursue opportunities in the wider market, such as smart homes and cities, says their March 27th press release.

Huawei’s foray into UK may be a setback for US-based metering companies that assume Europe would provide their next wave of growth. Some fear North American companies may have to cut prices and margins, or be priced out altogether. 

Source: smartgridnews.com

Smart meters made by Switzerland-based Landis+Gyr are being used in many parts of the world (photo credit: Landis+Gyr)

World market for smart meters

100 mil units by 2015

The market will peak in 2015 followed by a gradual decline in annual unit shipments

963 mil units by 2020

This gives a penetration rate of 59% among all installed electric meters

Where and when the peaks will take place:

North America: 2012

Asia Pacific: 2015

Europe: 2017

What is smart meter?

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) – the jargon for smart meters – uses two-way communications networks and integrated intelligence to enable utilities and consumers to better manage electricity usage. It lays the foundation for a broad array of energy efficiency and management services. The adoption of smart meters is often done as part of a larger smart grid agenda.

Source: Pike Research