Digi launches Connectport for Smart Energy gateway

The Zigbee Smart Energy certified gateway easily connects certified Zigbee Smart Energy devices from a Home Area Network (HAN) to an energy service provider via broadband.

It is said to be the industry's first gateway that connects, controls, or gathers data from Zigbee Smart Energy devices equally well before or with Smart Meter deployments.

When a Smart Meter is present, the gateway can make meter information immediately available to any energy-management application.

As part of iDigi Energy, energy service providers can use the Connectport X2 for Smart Energy and iDigi platform to easily integrate thermostats, smart meters, in-home displays, load controllers and other Zigbee Smart Energy devices into complete energy-management systems.

The flexible Connectport X2 for Smart Energy offers Ethernet and Zigbee connectivity.

It also features local, customisable open-scripting standards via Python.

This allows customers to leverage the in-home processing capability of the gateway to optimise their energy service offerings.

Professional services are also available through Spectrum Design Solutions, Digi's wireless consulting group, to speed development.

All Digi gateways can be remotely configured and upgraded using iDigi Energy, allowing new services to be offered after the system is installed.

The Connectport X2 for Smart Energy can be deployed as a standalone Zigbee Smart Energy HAN for areas without Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)/Smart Meter deployments or participate in an AMI network, providing broadband connectivity for enhanced energy-management services.

Gateways deployed in advance of AMI can join a Smart Meter-based network once it is installed, using iDigi to remotely make all software changes required for an easy upgrade and preserving the simplicity of a single Energy Services Portal (ESP) Smart Energy architecture.

The Connectport X2 also separates consumers' energy-management data from the utility's cash-register meter network, adding to the security and integrity of the AMI system.

Built on the XBee-Pro ZB Zigbee module, the Connectport X2 for Smart Energy gateway features Zigbee Smart Energy-certified firmware, enabling compatibility with all devices defined in the Zigbee Smart Energy public application profile.

These include energy service portals (ESPs), metering devices, in-premise display devices, programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs), load controllers, range extenders, smart appliances and prepayment terminals.