Use Case

A company with over 200,000 electricity consumption points across 280 locations in Germany required an efficient solution for capturing and optimizing energy consumption in its properties and technical facilities in accordance with EN ISO 50001. The existing metering infrastructure was fragmented, various energy meters could not be centrally analyzed and real-time monitoring was lacking. This made it difficult to identify inefficient consumers and peak loads, leading to higher energy costs and inadequate ESG and CSRD reports. With the wireless SMARTmodbus solution by PSsystec, a manufacturer-independent connection to existing energy meters via Modbus RTU was achieved. The non-invasive plug-and-play installation enabled rapid retrofitting without operational interruptions. All consumption data is transmitted in real time via NB-IoT/LTE-M, independently of local IT integration, making energy flows transparent, identifying energy-intensive consumers and reducing peak loads – all without requiring local IT infrastructure.

Challenge

The leading company in energy and infrastructure services sought a solution to efficiently capture and optimize the energy consumption of its properties and technical facilities. The existing metering infrastructure was fragmented, as energy meters from different manufacturers did not allow for centralized analysis. This made cross-site energy management according to EN ISO 50001 difficult and systematic optimization nearly impossible.Additionally, a reliable data foundation for ESG and CSRD reports was lacking, while inefficient consumers and peak loads could only be identified with significant manual effort. A wireless, IT-independent solution was required, as local network security policies restricted direct IT integration. The company needed a scalable, interoperable solution that could seamlessly integrate into existing metering systems. A digital connection via Modbus RTU was to enable secure transmission of all energy flows via NB-IoT or LTE-M, allowing for centralized analysis and the implementation of sustainable optimization measures. At the same time, the solution had to be eligible for funding to make investments in energy efficiency measures economically viable.

Solution and Technical Implementation

Installation and Integration

To optimize energy management, existing energy meters (Socomec Diris, Countis) were retrofitted via Modbus RTU and connected to the SMARTbox mini IoT device. The installation was carried out at main and sub-distributions to capture all relevant consumption data at each location. Thanks to the non-invasive plug-and-play wireless technology, no complex IT integration was required, enabling efficient retrofitting of existing infrastructures. Even in basement levels, the powerful wireless technology ensured stable connectivity.

Energy Data and Optimization

The recorded consumption data was securely transmitted wirelessly via NB-IoT and LTE-M to the Cloud of Things, enabling cross-site live monitoring of energy flows. Based on the collected data, targeted adjustments to energy management could be implemented. The building management system introduced efficient controls to reduce energy costs and lower CO₂ emissions. In some areas, inefficient technologies were replaced with high-quality LED lighting and optimized machine controls. The system supports ISO 50001-compliant energy monitoring and is also eligible for BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control) funding, ensuring a rapid return on investment.

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