The WPC-IP that supports the IPv6 Over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPAN) protocol for home energy management, smart plug, smart metering and other smart grid applications.

Watteco will demonstrate its new WPC-IP module in Cisco’s booth at the Platt European Smart Grid Strategies Conference, from September 17 to September 18, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Watteco is a member of the Cisco Smart Grid Ecosystem, which is designed to facilitate the adoption of IP-based communications standards for smart grids that will benefit the energy industry, as well as business and residential customers.

The WPC-IP module is directly installed on existing indoor/outdoor electricity wire. It delivers a low-cost, compact solution for developing home command-and-control networks that use IP-based, protocols to manage and streamline energy usage while enhancing home comfort and security. The new version of Watteco’s WPC module enables IPv6 packets to be carried in the smart grid.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) in its publication entitled, “The Smart Grid: An Introduction,” a less centralized, more consumer-interactive two-way smart grid is expected to ease congestion and increase utilization (of full capacity), sending 50% to 300% more electricity through existing corridors. Another DoE study projects energy savings of 5% to 15% from smart grid. The DoE has said that a grid efficiency improvement of even 5% will equate to permanently eliminating the fuel and greenhouse gas emissions from 53 million cars.

“We are pleased to be working with Cisco and other partners and customers to help realize the industry’s vision of intelligent and resilient end-to-end management of power supply and demand,” said Eric Berthaud, chairman, Watteco. The WPC module will help the industry realize what companies like Cisco have described as a complete electricity system communications fabric — from electrical generation to business and the home — based on IP standards. The goal is for any device to be able to talk to any other device at any location — in the home, at the meter, at the substation, or in the grid.”

Watteco’s WPC-IP module supports all key IEEE 802.15.4 radio protocol stacks, is easy to integrate and delivers a low bill of materials cost. It provides a direct bridge between PLC technologies and any radio frequency (RF) technologies including ZigBee or 802.15.4 stack, as well as lower-layer protocols. It operates at 10 kbits/s bi-directional PLC data rates, while consuming less than 10mW of power (100 times less than alternative PLC technologies), and it occupies less than 2.5cm² of board space. Integrating the WPC-IP device into command and control smart energy systems improves compatibility with other open standards, facilitates integration with 6LoWPAN and other IP networks, and increases coverage as compared to alternative solutions that don’t support the same breadth of wired and wireless networking protocols.

Pricing and Availability:

The WPC-IP device is available now in sample quantities and is scheduled to enter volume production in the fourth quarter, 2009. Unit pricing in production volumes is $3.90.

The WPC-IP module will be on display at the Cisco booth during the Platt European Smart Grid Strategies Conference, from September 17 to September 18, 2009 at the Hilton Berlin in Berlin, Germany.