New Jersey IoT firm Orbcomm’s smart grid monitoring system has won an IoT Innovator Award from market researcher Compass Intelligence.

The company was recognised in the IoT for Good category, which includes innovations that address global sustainability, energy and utilities conservation, environmental protection, emissions reduction, and others that impact the planet and its resources.

Orbcomm’s smart grid system monitors and controls utilities’ equipment and infrastructure, such as reclosers, fault indicators, voltage regulators and capacitor banks, around the clock, enabling electricity distribution companies to manage operations remotely.

By leveraging two-way satellite connectivity as a primary or backup communications system, users can improve the reliability and availability of near-real-time field data, especially in areas where cellular coverage is limited, unstable or non-existent, such as following a natural disaster.

If there is an issue, the system alerts the control centre helping utilities quickly identify faults in electricity distribution networks, isolate specific sections of the network or trip a recloser to reduce the impact of unplanned outages. The device can also be pinged to get information such as voltage, power factor, current and more, to ensure efficient and continuous distribution of electricity.

Brazilian energy company Cerfox recently used Orbcomm’s smart grid monitor to ensure continuous energy provision when a cyclone hit the southern states of Brazil in June. Now considered the biggest wind disaster in the country’s recent history, the extreme weather caused the region’s electrical grid to collapse, and some areas went for days without power.

Cerfox relied on Orbcomm’s continuous satellite connectivity and IoT technology to ensure remote communications were still available despite damage from pole breaks, conductor ruptures and falling trees, and never experienced instability in the recloser system. Throughout the storm, satellite terminals, which were strategically installed in remote areas with no signal availability or regions with a large concentration of consumers, continued to operate effectively and were crucial in helping Cerfox quickly identify failures in the electrical grid, manoeuvre service teams and restore the electrical network.

“We’re pleased to be recognised by Compass Intelligence for developing a leading-edge smart grid that utilises satellite IoT technology to support energy and utilities conservation around the world, which is integral to Orbcomm’s corporate social responsibility mission,” said Craig Malone, Orbcomm executive vice president. “Orbcomm’s smart grid monitoring is designed to give utility operators the visibility they need to monitor, manage and improve the quality of electricity supplied, while decreasing power usage, system overloads and power outages. Cerfox is an excellent example of Orbcomm’s smart IoT in action and demonstrates the high level of reliability and performance of our satellite communications despite the challenges of an extreme weather event.”

Stephanie Atkinson, CEO of Compass Intelligence, added: “The global pandemic has not slowed adoption of IoT, and in fact has accelerated projects around automation and remote operation. The IoT Innovator Awards programme builds on existing research, market studies, custom advisory and insight reports.”