How Elvaco, Diehl Metering and Iskraemeco are enabling smart metering for Iceland’s largest energy provider

This use case shows how Orkuveita Reykjavíkur is implementing a future-proof smart metering solution for an integrated utility network, optimising its business processes and taking a pioneering role in remote meter reading in Iceland with an NB-IoT infrastructure.

Orkuveita Reykjavíkur’s supply area covers the greater Reykjavík region as well as large parts of southern and western Iceland. Its pipe and cable networks extend over a total of 9,000 km.

Challenges
For a sustainable energy supply, consumption needs to be read at regular intervals. Network maintenance also requires information on the volumes flowing through the pipelines. What was needed was an automated meter reading system (AMR) capable of automatically providing data at short intervals. The scale and complexity of the project presented challenges, with more than 60,000 devices and five project partners from four countries involved. Additional factors included the mobile network operator Sýn’s (Vodafone Iceland) lack of prior experience with NB-IoT, as well as the requirement for all data to remain in Iceland.

Solution
The project comprises an NB-IoT-based network of various meters integrated into one centralized software solution. NB-IoT complements wireless M-Bus in regions with insufficient coverage and uses Vodafone Iceland’s telecommunications services and existing radio masts.

The solution has a modular design: Diehl Metering’s SHARKY heat meter is available in mains- or battery-powered versions. With an Elvaco plug-in module and SIM card, it becomes NB-IoT-enabled. Elvaco’s CMi6160 meter communication module enables flexible reading intervals and can be adapted to changing requirements. Thanks to bidirectional communication, configurations and firmware updates can be carried out remotely over the air. Once the data has been transmitted, the head-end system confirms receipt or specifically requests any missing packets. This ensures that only the necessary data is resent.

With the autostart function, the NB-IoT modem starts automatically as soon as the meter registers flow. This reduces field work, minimises potential sources of error and brings the module closer to plug-and-play operation. The modular antenna concept – internal or external – makes deployment easier under varying conditions. The module sends the data via Vodafone Iceland to an Orkuveita Reykjavíkur server in Iceland, with no routing via other European servers.

Thanks to open standards, meters, sensors and software from Diehl Metering can be combined with devices from other manufacturers. Existing systems can be expanded or modernised using Diehl Metering solutions. This enables Orkuveita Reykjavíkur to avoid dependence on proprietary systems.

Iskraemeco provided the electricity meters and the head-end system – a software platform for remote meter reading that manages communication with Diehl Metering devices.

Successes
Through digitalisation, Orkuveita Reykjavíkur is increasing its operational efficiency and can develop services for a smart future. The new infrastructure enables remote management of metering points and services across the entire supply area and reduces overall costs. The modularity of the meters provides a high degree of flexibility in the rollout of smart metering and facilitates the replacement of communication modules – a key prerequisite for intelligent, future-proof investments.

The project will be completed in November 2026 and forms part of Iceland's strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Thanks to a battery lifetime of at least 13 years, the solution can remain  in operation until 2038. The decision to use NB-IoT has optimised operations to such an extent that the overall solution is more cost-effective than the offerings of other providers.

With the solution from Iskraemeco, Diehl Metering and Elvaco, Orkuveita Reykjavíkur is a first mover for NB-IoT in Iceland. The project has attracted nationwide attention and is already regarded as good practice. As a result, Elvaco and Diehl Metering are in talks with other companies in Iceland about potential NB-IoT projects.

Products used

• Around 100,000 electricity meters for NB-IoT
• More than 62,000 SHARKY 775 heat meters from Diehl Metering, around 12,000 of which feature Elvaco’s integrated CMi6160 meter communication module for NB-IoT
• 2,200 HYDRUS 2.0 water meters from Diehl Metering, with wireless M-Bus modules for integration into Iskraemeco electricity meters
• A further 250 HYDRUS 2.0 water meters with NB-IoT modules

Jakob Sigurður Friðriksson, Project Manager at Orkuveita Reykjavíkur:
“In terms of scope and scale, this project is the first of its kind in Europe in the field of remote heat meter reading. We are therefore all the more proud to have successfully completed the project and to see the solution in productive operation.”

Highlights

• Flexibility thanks to a modular solution: SHARKY heat meters from Diehl Metering, plug-in modules from Elvaco, and electricity meters and head-end system from Iskraemeco
• Technology openness prevents dependence on proprietary systems
• Orkuveita Reykjavíkur is a pioneer in remote meter reading in Iceland and benefits from NB-IoT’s extensive network coverage and strong penetration capabilities