Bglobal links with Orange and wins approval
ENERGY data firm Bglobal has won UK regulatory approval for its new smart meter and is to work with Orange to deliver real time energy data.
It has also won Measuring Instruments Directive approval, allowing its Bglobal Smart1 meter, which has been designed for energy suppliers servicing mass residential and SME business markets, to be used in all countries across the EU.
The Darwen-based company said approval of its Smart1 meter would allow it to deploy the product across UK and European energy markets.
The new product will be launched at the Sustainability Live event on April 20 in Birmingham.
Bglobal said its partners in South East Asia will produce the communications modules whilst Singapore-based EDMI will produce the meter component exclusively for Bglobal.
The company has also entered a partnership agreement with telecoms provider Orange to develop a range of new services to UK business and residential metering customers.
Its Smart1 meter, fitted with Orange’s GPRS communications devices can be used to create the hub of Home Area Networks (HANs) or Business Area Networks (BANs) which can communicate with other smart-enabled devices, collecting and delivering real-time information and energy management data over the Orange Network to Bglobal’s customers.
Tony Barnes, chief executive of Bglobal, said: “The innovation and adaptability of the Smart1 marks a big step forward for smart meters and for Bglobal. We are rapidly building our capability across the end-to-end value chain which we believe will further deliver outstanding cost and flexibility advantages for our customers.
“Partnering with Orange will serve to further enhance our expertise and maintain our position at the forefront of the drive towards smarter communication and delivering the goal of greatly-improved customer access to energy information.”
The company added that it had installed more than 5,000 smart meters in March and that more than 40,000 meter installations had been billed for during the last financial year, up nearly 100% on the previous financial year.
