Who is Smart? Smart Metering and Billing System for Prosumer Microgrids With New-Type Multi-Source Energy Meters

This paper introduces a novel perspective on the concept of “smart” in the context of prosumer microgrids. Stan-dard “smart” solutions have primarily focused on the stability of energy production sources and transmission networks-that is, energy management systems can partially control the operation of consumer objects, deriving benefits such as balance and stability in the operation of the energy sources, transmission, and distribution lines. This paper presents a new-type, direct integration of the “smart” element on the consumers' side, allowing them to derive direct benefits from participating in a cluster that incorporates renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and other energy-efficient sources that produce energy at a lower cost than that supplied by the grid. It has been achieved through the use of multi-source energy consumption meters, which make it possible to distinguish what portion of the energy flowing through the meter at any given time comes from the grid, what from renewable sources, or what from other sources present in the microgrid. This allows for the development of a more prosumer-oriented billing system. The described metering and billing system extends the concept of “smart” within prosumer microgrids, contributing to the further development of renewable energy-powered microgrids, with a particular emphasis on the benefits for prosumers.