New design for a sustainable Enel Smart meter

Enel Global Infrastructure and Networks is looking for a new design for residential single-phase and poly-phase smart meters, which must have innovative features in design and materials, incorporating the principles of circular economy and sustainability.

BACKGROUND

The installation of the smart meter in every single customer’s house is mandatory to provide a smart, modern and digital service to customers, empowering them with an active control in their energy consumption. It is important that the meter harmoniously fits into the environment in which it is being installed.

THE CHALLENGE

Enel Global Infrastructure and Networks (EGI & N) is looking for a new and sustainable design for residential single-phase and poly-phase smart meters, which must have innovative features in design and materials, incorporating the principles of circular economy and sustainability.

The development of the new smart meter will have to meet the following requirements:

1. Comply with the technical, dimensional, safety and protection requirements currently adopted by Enel for smart meters.
2. Ensuring easy manufacturability as they are produced in large volumes.
3. Incorporate in its design and implement as much as possible the fundamental principles of the circular economy and sustainability.
4. Promote and enhance , through the design of the smart meter, a vision of efficiency, reliability, innovation and empathy.
5. Provide the possibility of conveying brief messages or simbols like logos addressed to the final users and maintenance worker  of the Company.
6. The meter is subject to tampering so the design of the aesthetics must in any case take into account an anti-intrusion robustness.

For the materials:

• The smart meter cover is mainly composed by Polycarbonate (reinforced with 10% of Glass Fiber); the proposal of alternative materials to this type of reinforced polymer would be positively considered, as long as they ensure similar mechanical characteristics, and represent a more sustainable and circular solution. It is desirable as well, the use of secondary raw materials as input materials, in percentages fulfilling technical standards and specifications.
• The material must allow or improve the use, accessibility, and safety performance of the smart meter in relation to the work processes in which it is involved.

For the design:

• Promote a positive visual impact of these infrastructures that improve their insertion into local contexts (home indoor, …), favoring their reception. 
• The design of the meter must be able to arouse a perfect combination of functional aspects that can simultaneously recall the sense of efficiency, reliability and quality of performance and symbolic aspects capable of expressing innovation, a look to the future but also closeness and empathy towards the final user.
• Be a symbol of a new vision of energy promoted and communicated by the Company: more participatory, bidirectional, sustainable, and evolved, forming a closer relationship between the Company and its customers. Provide for the possibility of conveying brief messages aimed at customers or at the Company’s various stakeholders.
• Possess the requirements of realization and economic feasibility. 
• Integrate the circular perspective into the design in order to ensure the asset’s longevity, favor modularity and therefore the replacement and maintenance of components, as well as the recycling/reuse of the smart meter materials at the end of its life. The main drivers of a Circular by Design approach concern:  
  • Structure/architecture of the product: Reduce the number of components compared to the main functionalities required and a design that facilitates the removal of hazardous materials.
  • Components: Use long-lasting components and avoid hazardous materials.
  • Materials: Select recyclable/recycled materials and with low energy intensity as well as minimize the variability of materials used. In the analysis of materials, the assessment must be made taking into account regulation IEC62474, REACH (European Union Regulation for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances, Directive 2002/95/EC). 
  • Design for dismantling: The product must be designed in such a way as to facilitate the dismantling and recovery of all materials at the end of their life.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

The submitted proposal should contain:

1. Solution description including:
   
   1. A description of the proposed solution with an explanation of how the Applicant proposes to address the Solution Requirements as listed above.
   2. An overview of the proposed path (possible materials and technologies to be used).
   3. 3D rendering, views of the smart meter.
   4. Technical drawings with all maximum dimensions (in a pdf file). Confirmation of adherence to all the requirements or declaration of the requirement not respected.
2. General information about the Applicant including:
   1. The key contact person for this Challenge (including phone number and email address).
   2. Organization/Company/University name and address (including website, if available).

The proposal should not include any information the Solvers may consider as their Intellectual Property they do not want to share.

Contact / source: New design for a sustainable Enel Smart meter | Open Innovability