We worked with Cannon Electrical Services to produce new software capable of reading real time data on electricity consumption.

The company already install “smart” electricity meters, which can provide detailed data on electricity consumption, however they wanted to display to their customers exactly how much electricity they are using at any given time.

Fabio Caparrelli from Sheffield Hallam worked with the company to produce a feasibility study and build a prototype of the new software. He then helped the company develop a new web-based application which would control the meter and access the data remotely. He added several new features to the software, including the facility to connect several meters to one single PC or laptop, thus minimising hardware costs.

Paul Cannon, owner of Cannon Electrical Services, was able to trial the new software in a number of meter installations in Leeds and Bradford, including Bradford City Council. He could then access the meters’ data directly from his web browser in his office in Leeds.

Realising the potential of this new development, Paul negotiated a deal with his meter supplier (Nanjing BlueStar Electricity Meter Research Institute) which enabled him to become the approved sole importer of the meters in the UK. Together with Bluestar, he has also formed Intenwatch, a new limited company whose mission is to assist organisations to gather the information required for them to meet their requirements on carbon emissions.

The collaboration between Cannon Electrical Services and Sheffield Hallam University was pivotal to the formation of Intenwatch.

Paul Cannon is now looking for investment grants and other opportunities to promote and launch his new smart meter product range. He plans to make use of the services provided by Sheffield Hallam University as soon as a new opportunity for a development project is found.

Company owner Paul Cannon said, ‘Without the help and professional support of Dr Caparrelli, we would never have got our product off the ground.

‘Prior to meeting Dr Caparrelli at Sheffield Hallam University, we had been in discussions with two other higher education institutions and neither had been able to produce the software we required.’

Project supported by Innovation Futures.