Watteco SAS and Coronis, two French firms, announced on February 16 that they are developing a new gateway that will benefit automation in the home – a crucial technology for the smart grid of the future.  Watteco manufactures power line communications (PLC) chips while Coronis is a leading developr of wireless solutions for sensor monitoring networks. 

The new gateway will be built around the European DIN rail standard where it can be plugged into the electrical control panels of homes.  Watteco and Coronis have teamed up with BPL Global (BPLG) to deploy home automation technology and smart energy solutions this year.  BPL Global is a leading smart grid innovator that is currently working with utilities and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

The pair’s gateway allows for utilities to provide new smart energy services to customers at low cost.  Utilizing PLC and wireless communications within such a small footprint allows for easy installation and a flexible and scalable smart grid solution for the future.  Watteco and Coronis’ solution is built around Internet Protocol (IP) and will encourage the widespread adaptation of IP-based gateways, sensors, and actuators.

Coronis’ Wavenis-enabled communications platform is built around its new System on Chip (SoC) design.  Coronis is long established in the industrial field and counts more than 4 million Wavenis-compatible devices currently in use around the world.  The companion Watt Pulse Communications (WPC) from Watteco utilized PLC communications.  WPC uses resonance frequencies to transmit unlike other PLC systems that require powered communications carriers.  The resulting system is extremely efficient.

“Working with innovative partners like Watteco and Coronis allows BPLG to strengthen our Power SG smart grid solutions, a portfolio unmatched by any supplier in the industry,” said Pascal Julienne, President Executive Director at BPL Global EMEA.  “Advances in secure, cost-effective communications technologies make it possible to connect millions of energy assets at the edge of the grid such as sensors, customer loads, solar cells, wind turbines, distributed generation, and energy storage.”

“This will significantly increase the efficiency and reliability of our electric system and allow electric utilities and their customers to lower their carbon footprints in accordance with EU environmental goals,” Julienne continued.

“Thanks to the professional collaboration between our organizations, Coronis is proud to help Watteco to successfully deliver the first consumer oriented PLC/Wavenis gateway that is able to serve the needs of markets such as home and building automation, smart metering and smart grids, alarm and security, industrial automation and more,” said Laurent Maleysson, Managing Director of Coronis.

“The co-existence of wireless and wire line solutions for the various control and command smart energy markets, such as home control, is becoming a de facto market requirement,” said Eric Berthaud, President of Watteco SAS.  “This alliance with Coronis is going to enhance smart grid development by providing a new way of communication and we look forward to jointly provide this innovative solution to our customers.”

WATTECO SAS
1766 Chemin de la Planquette
ZAC La Pauline
83130 La Garde
France
http://www.watteco.com

Coronis S.A.S.
Espace Concorde Bât. B
120, impasse Jean Baptiste Say
34470 Pérols
France
http://www.coronis.com

BPL Global
500 Cranberry Woods Drive, Suite 170
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
http://www.bplglobal.net

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