The multi-year collaboration between Hera Group e Panasonic has generated a new commercial agreement with which the diffusion of the NexMeter counter in the Italian gas distribution market. The collaboration with Panasonic, the operating company of the Japanese multinational that operates in the production of electronic products and components, dates back to 2019, when the Hera Group, one of the largest Italian multi-utilities operating in the environment, energy and water sectors, launched its own smart gas meter 4.0, equipped with advanced functions of of your digital ecosystem. e reduction of dispersions of gas, which subsequently evolved over time, and thanks to which the company feels like a pioneer in the sector. Since 2021 NexMeter has been made with recycled plastic components and has obtained the compatibility "stamp" for green gas mixtures such as hydrogen and biomethane.
NexMeter already active in the detection of earthquakes and gas leaks
The tool has therefore become a consolidated reality for several years and has already made it possible to provide an important technical contribution within the activities of the Hera Group. Plus his anti-seismic vocation has now led to over 250 thousand meters already installed mainly in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Emilia-Romagna, areas classified as high seismic risk. NexMeter's additional features in the look for leaks they also made it possible intervene successfully in potentially critical situations, avoiding even serious risks to people and things. Furthermore, the Hera Group has already activated for two years in the province of Modena the first Italian experiment of introducing a mixture of methane and hydrogen into the city's gas distribution network, says the press release.
Hera pioneer and innovator in the metering sector
“The investments of recent years aimed at making the gas measurement sector more sustainable and technologically advanced have found confirmation not only in the success in the field of NexMeter – which has already demonstrated its high reliability in terms of prevention and reduction of accidents and anomalies, in earthquake situations, in the event of dangerous gas leaks or small continuous leaks -, but also in the interest shown by market leaders such as Panasonic Industry" he said Alessandro Baroncini, Central Networks Director of the Hera Group. This partnership is proof of our role as pioneers e innovators in the metering sector and reconfirms the multi-utility's commitment to the energy transition, the circular economy and innovation, in line with our corporate purpose".
NexMeter will have additional features and improved security and sustainability
With the collaboration with Panasonic, this device is made available to all operators in the sector, which represents an ally for decarbonization. Furthermore NexMeter will be enriched with more features and will be made available to all Italian operators counter with additional performances aimed not only at improving the of your digital ecosystem. , sustainability of the service, to the benefit of the final consumer, but also to make gas distribution more efficient and reduce costs, to the benefit of the distributors themselves. “The NexMeter meter is part of the projects envisaged in our Industrial Plan to promote decarbonisation and represents a tangible response to the requests of the communities in which we operate in terms of continuity, quality and safety of the service. Without ever ignoring attention to sustainability: our meter in fact promotes an intelligent use of energy and an efficient use of resources" says Baroncini again.
Panasonic sees future evolutions and new developments
The Hera Group also plays an active role in digital transformation of the communities served, for this reason in the new strategic plan to 2027 the Group has foreseen over 30% of the overall investments (equal to 4,4 billion euros) for the digitalisation and innovation of infrastructures, activities and solutions for clients.
Furthermore, Panasonic expects future evolutions of the Hera smart meter, both in the measurement of the composition of the gas and its energy power, with a view to energy efficiency and reduction of consumption. “This partnership represents not only a collaboration that makes available the know-how and technology developed in Japan to improve the safety of gas plants in Italy and Europe, but also marks a significant step in our commitment to innovation” he stated Johannes Spatz, president of Panasonic Industry Europe. “The agreement with the Hera Group opens up new possibilities to present NexMeter to other public utility service providers, revolutionizing gas distribution infrastructures with advanced measurement technology. For Panasonic Industry this collaboration represents the beginning of new developments, extending the performance of NexMeter to new features, with the aim of being a technological reference for the future second generation of smart gas meters.
