Open source hardware and software to support energy efficiency and Demand Response in LV installations

The design and implementation of Smart Grids takes usually into account the participation of LV electrical energy consumers (through techniques such as Demand Response). However, there is still a lack of cost effective hardware and software solutions that would allow these consumers to monitor their installation, comprehend their electrical energy consumption, take action towards achieving energy efficiency, and effectively participate in Demand Response programs. This paper aims to address this issue, presenting a complete, open source hardware and software solution, which enables measurements of electrical voltages and currents at the installation main distribution panel, the transmission and storage of the respective data in a personal computer, and their subsequent processing by the Cassandra open source software platform. The analysis of the proposed solution components is followed by results obtained by the implementation in a residential installation.