Agriculture
November 9, 2023
Product Description
The Lumeter PAYG Technology is a combination of hardware and customizable software back-end that can be embedded into a variety of products to create Pay-As-You-Go enabled systems. Off-grid energy solutions may be adapted with this product to allow end-users, who lack access to electricity, buy time on a solar home system, or other energy products. Meters have a payment mechanism similar to a pre-paid cell phone system, where customers can use their cell phone’s text message service (SMS) to buy electricity credit (i.e. Pay-As-You-Go). This product will function until the purchased credits are depleted, and then the metering system will disable it until more credits have been purchased.
Manufacturing/Building Method
Lumeter Networks is an ICT technology provider that licenses its technology to third-party manufacturers or allows its integration with other solar systems providers.
Intellectural Property Type
Trade Secret
User Provision Model
Lumeter Networks is a B2B company. Manufacturers and distributors of products on Rent-to-Own and Pay-As-You-Go models may contact Lumeter Networks directly to procure the Lumeter technology. End-users of Lumeter metered systems may obtain access codes for the systems as tokens in one of three ways: payments at a local corner store, payments through mobile money (automated SMS delivery sends turn-on codes, and warnings), and/or payments to a sales employee directly.
Distributions to Date Status
As of 2020, Lumeter has been supporting over 20 solar distribution companies. Samples have been sold to clients in over 40 countries.
Design Specifications
Lumeter Networks delivers the custom PAYG technology solution and a customizable software back-end -Lumeter Luminutes- to manufacturers and distributors of essential technologies. The Lumeter Luminutes platform delivers real-time information about all customer transactions in real-time. It tracks and manages multiple metering systems and payment models and allows for custom modifications to meet the needs of business models as well as the ability to adapt and work with outside software. Examples of enabled systems include products from the following manufacturers:
- FOSERA
- OMNIVOLTAIC
- IBOXS
- MOAB
- TAI ENERGY
Technical Support
Lumeter provides an integrated support service for distributors looking to add the OEM Meter to their product. It is a four-step process listed here:
- Send a sample of the products and the circuit schematic to Lumeter in the USA.
- Lumeter analyzes the optimal method to integrate the meter into the product and suggests possible improvements for future integration.
- Lumeter sends the pay-as-you-go-enabled product back, along with documentation that captures the retrofit process through text, photos, and short video to enable engineers to duplicate the process.
- Lumeter makes its engineers available to answer questions and troubleshoot as the integration proceeds.
Replacement Components
N/A
Lifecycle
The product has a two-year warranty. Interview with representative
Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters
Lumeter Networks claims that their PAYG Technology delivers:
- Plug-and-play products and individual system management
- Payment tracking in real-time
- Automated SMS delivery sends turn-on codes and warnings
- Substantial data collection for critical management choices
Vetted Performance Status
Manufacturer tested product. Interview with representative
Safety
No known safety hazards are related to this product.
Complementary Technical Systems
Mobile phones are needed to buy electricity credit and manage their payments. Also, this product can be integrated with other systems such as solar home systems, mini-grids, and solar pumps.
Academic Research and References
Ballesteros, A., et al.,2013. Implementation strategies for renewable energy services in low-income rural areas. Washington D.C.: World Resources Institute
Alstone, P., Gershenson, D., Kammen, D.M.,2015. Decentralized energy systems for clean electricity access. Nature Climate Change.
Nique, M., Smertnik, H.,2015. The synergies between mobile phone access and off grid energy solutions. Springer Proceedings in Energy.
Hirmer, S., Cruickshank, H.,2014. The user-value of rural electrification: an analysis and adoption of existing models and theories. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.
Harper, M.,2013. Review of strategies and technologies for demand-side management on isolated mini-grids. Arcata (CA): Humboldt State University.
Ballesteros, A., et al.,2013. Implementation strategies for renewable energy services in low-income rural areas. Washington D.C.: World Resources Institute.
Alstone, P., Gershenson, D., Kammen, D.M.,2015. Decentralized energy systems for clean electricity access. Nature Climate Change.
Nique, M., Smertnik, H.,2015. The synergies between mobile phone access and off-grid energy solutions. Springer Proceedings in Energy.
Harper, M.,2013. Review of strategies and technologies for demand-side management on isolated mini-grids). Arcata (CA): Humboldt State University.
Compliance with regulations
Unknown
Other Information
None
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From my perspective, and also from many organisations, open-source solutions are always preferable as they can be improved upon and extended forming a public good. This does not preclude profitable deployment of the technology; the hosting and hardware can still be provided as a commercial service. In that sense, it is unfortunate that the technology here is under a private license.
This post needs to be updated: Lumeter networks no longer sells or manufactures the Lumeter Customer Meter. Lumeter network transitioned into an ICT technology provider and licenses or integrates their PAYG technology into other manufacturers. Here are the actual products that include Lumeter technology and they may be able to have their individual solution page:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4…
FOSERA
OMNIVOLTAIC
IBOXS
MOAB
TAI ENERGY
The manufacturing method should be updated to licensing or integration into 3rd party manufacturers.
The links in this page are broken, probably because the meter is no longer a product. However, the description in the fields: technical support and Manufacturer specified performance targets is somewhat still accurate. Design specifications have to be updated, most likely reduced to what is available in Lumeter’s new website:
http://www.lumeter.net/offe…
Most of the links should be updated to reflect the transformation of the company.