One Gateway, 20 Meters: How 1:n Makes the Smart Meter Rollout Scalable
Smart metering systems can be rolled out on a massive scale—in the millions—if a suitable solution is available for every on-site situation. The discussion about the smart meter rollout, however, often focuses on individual cases of mandatory installation, prosumers, or controllable consumption devices. However, if the smart metering system is to be widely adopted in apartment buildings and larger properties, the focus must extend beyond the individual meter point.
This includes making efficient use of the established iMSys infrastructure. Especially in multi-unit residential buildings and neighborhood projects, there is enormous potential to enable millions of customers to benefit from the advantages of digitalization. The key lies in the consistent use of the 1:n connection. Multiple modern metering devices are securely integrated into the smart metering system via a shared smart meter gateway.
Projects such as those by the competitive metering point operator VALENDA Metering demonstrate that this has long been in use in the field and has proven itself in continuous operation.
From a Single Metering Point to a Smart Building
The starting point: an apartment building in Lehrte with 61 tenants, including a common electricity meter and two PV systems. Here, 20 meters were connected to a smart meter gateway 16 months ago. Operations have run smoothly since day one, providing solid evidence of the 1:n architecture’s suitability for everyday use.
The reference project in Lehrte at a glance:
- 20 meters connected to a smart meter gateway
- has been operating reliably for 16 months
- no issues with communication or data transmission
- less hardware and installation effort per metering point
- one of more than 40 projects with 1:15 or more connections
- scalable concept for apartment buildings and larger properties
1:n as the key to shared building energy supply
The 1:n ratio is particularly important for shared building energy supply and tenant-generated electricity. In both models, locally generated solar power is used by multiple parties within a building. To achieve this, the generation and consumption of the participating units must be reliably measured and processed. This enables complex metering concepts to be implemented more cost-effectively and opens the door to new supply and billing models. The scalable metering infrastructure is crucial for this.
The Smart Meter Gateway thus serves as the building’s central digital interface. It connects the individual metering points to downstream energy management processes and provides the technical foundation for efficiently operating shared energy supply concepts.
Practical Experience Rather Than Theoretical Feasibility
The need to connect multiple meters to a smart meter gateway has long been a topic of discussion in the industry. Technically speaking, 1:n has long since ceased to be a pipe dream; even connecting several dozen meters is easily possible. However, widespread implementation requires more than just basic technical feasibility: What matters most are designs and installations that function reliably in the field over the long term.
“For us, 1:n is not a theoretical model for the future, but already a reality. Our reference project has demonstrated for 16 months that 20 meters can be reliably operated via a single smart meter gateway. Recently, a project with a 1:25 ratio was even successfully commissioned. This is an important prerequisite—especially for communal building supply and tenant electricity—for implementing projects in a cost-effective and scalable manner,” says Roland Schröder, Managing Director of VALENDA Metering GmbH.
Large-scale scaling is only possible with 1:n
The expansion of smart metering systems on a massive scale—involving millions of meters—will not succeed solely through an increasing number of individual installations. Standardized concepts that enable entire buildings and larger properties to be efficiently connected are crucial.
1:n combines technical scalability with concrete economic benefits. The concept reduces infrastructure costs, facilitates the implementation of new utility solutions, and makes the smart meter gateway the central platform for digital building utility management.
