Smart connected devices from leading IoT and electronics providers are now achieving certification for the new Home Area Network (HAN) Router-IoT program from the Wi-SUN Alliance in Japan.
Fujitsu, ISB, Kyoto University / Nissin Systems, Renesas Electronics, and Skyley Networks have become the first companies to achieve HAN RI certification.
The newly launched Wi-SUN HAN 2.0 Route IoT Certification Program enables energy management in homes for appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, using smart power meters. It also guarantees multi-vendor compatibility for joint meter reading of special measuring instruments not certified under Japan’s Measurement Law. This includes EV charging systems and solar power generation systems, as well as gas and water meters, via electricity smart meters. Specifically, the program includes the following:
- Low-power operation functionality compatible with battery-powered water meters and gas meters.
- Relay transmission functionality enabling connection to outdoor EV charging systems and solar power generation systems.
- Interface functionality compatible with the Route IoT application established by the Japan Telemetering Association (JUTA) for joint meter reading of gas and water meter information via power meters.
- Home area network functionality for connecting to home appliances.
“We are very pleased to announce the first certified products and vendors as part of the HAN Route IoT Certification Program,” said Wi-SUN Alliance CEO Phil Beecher. “Wi-SUN Alliance has worked closely with the various stakeholders to deliver reliable communications technology for the next generation of smart meters and connected devices.”
In Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) discussed the communication method for Route IoT in the Next-Generation Smart Meter System Study Group. In May 2022, it was concluded that Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN, established by the Wi-SUN Alliance, is appropriate as it offers high implementability in meters, is internationally standardized, and enables reduced development costs for new devices. This alignment of Wi-SUN HAN with the needs of METI has led to the initiation of numerous collaborations between electric power companies and gas and water companies.
Following this decision, Wi-SUN HAN, which began adoption by power companies in 2013, has now rebranded and transitioned to Wi-SUN HAN 2.0. Wi-SUN HAN 2.0 includes not only Route IoT (RI), but also Route B (RB), which connects the electricity meter and Home Energy Management System (HEMS) via the Echonet Lite applications, and Route HAN (RH), which connects HEMS and home appliances via Echonet Lite applications. Currently HAN 2.0 Route IoT certification is being conducted by Telecom Engineering Center (TELEC), Japan.
“In Japan, tens of millions of electricity smart meters equipped with wireless devices certified by the Wi-SUN HAN certification program are already in operation,” said Dr. Hiroshi Harada, Chairman of the Board of the Wi-SUN Alliance and the Wi-SUN HAN Working Group. “The new HAN Route IoT and existing HAN have many common elements, making development easy. By quickly incorporating HAN and HAN Route IoT functionality into electricity smart meters, new services can be launched swiftly, from HAN to joint meter reading.”
“We look forward to your continued support for various new IoT applications based on Wi-SUN HAN 2.0, including energy metering and management,” Harada advised.
Learn more about the Wi-SUN Route IoT Certification Program here: https://wi-sun.org/certification-3/. The latest certified HAN products can be found here: https://wi-sun.org/certified-han-products/.