Solar Battery AP to simplify AMI network deployment

Tech company Itron has released their Solar Battery Access Point (Solar Battery AP), a solar-powered, battery-operated device they claim will simplify AMI network deployment.

According to the company in a release, when deploying an AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) network, water and gas utilities can face challenges due to the lack of overhead infrastructure to mount and power network devices.

Namely, the company cites high operational costs to rent or lease pole space, instal devices and maintain a network.

Itron’s Solar Battery AP aims to address this by enabling utilities to utilise their own assets to mount the devices, simplifying deployment and maintenance of an AMI network and lowering its total cost of ownership.

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Commenting in a release was John Marcolini, senior vice president of Network Solutions at Itron: "When designing the Solar Battery AP, we aimed to create a solution that would overcome the hurdles many water and gas utilities face when transitioning from an AMR to an AMI network, while also optimising the total cost of ownership.

"We look forward to helping utilities and municipalities leverage this technology to improve the safety and reliability of the critical services that they deliver and to create new ways for them to engage with their customers.”

For the solution, an integrated solar panel generates the power required to operate the Solar Battery AP. Itron says such a rechargeable system provided mounting flexibility and cost reduction for a power drop and monthly power bill.

Additionally, claims the company, the Solar Battery AP delivers a low-latency, battery-powered mesh network, expanding connectivity for gas and water utilities.

The Solar Battery AP will be available in North America in the second half of 2025.