Smart metering project at Grassalkovich Palace

Our company took part in delivering a smart electricity metering system in the representative rooms of Grassalkovich Palace, the seat of the President of the Slovak Republic. The primary aim of the project was to build a modern, reliable energy monitoring system for detailed tracking of consumption and the key parameters of the electrical network. The project was also designed to meet strict security requirements and to respect the particular constraints of a historic building.

The solution was based on installing seven Selec three-phase electricity analysers, which provide accurate measurement of voltage, current, active and reactive power and power factor. Some analysers were fitted in the main switch room, and others were installed directly in the palace’s rooms to cover all significant supply points. The devices were connected using the Modbus communication protocol, with a peer-to-peer architecture within a mobile operator’s private APN. This technology was chosen as the best solution in an environment where running new communication cables was severely limited and a wireless Wi-Fi network was out of the question because of security risks.

For data processing, an industrial Revolution Pi edge controller was deployed, which aggregates and visualises the measured values locally. The measured data is transferred to the higher-level monitoring system by Teltonika communication units, which use a secure data connection in Telekom’s private mobile network. The whole system was completed with protection and power components, including protective devices, terminal blocks and neatly routed supply circuits. The cabling was run in cable trays, with an emphasis on unambiguous labelling of all conductors and components, which makes future management and maintenance easier.

The project created a fully functional, secure and technologically modern smart electricity metering system. The new infrastructure allows accurate, continuous tracking of consumption in the individual parts of the building, gives the operator reliable data for optimising energy management and supports transparency in managing operating costs. The project successfully combined the historic character of the building with state-of-the-art metering and data transmission technology, creating a system that meets the demands of long-term reliable operation and is a significant step towards more efficient energy management of a building of national importance.