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Many of us take a reliable network connection for granted, but not the folks working for gas and water utilities at the grid edge. They know how tough it can be to do their jobs in areas without adequate overhead infrastructure to mount and power network devices.
Itron, an innovator in energy, water, smart city, IIoT, and intelligent infrastructure services, has come up with a solution.
The new Solar Battery Access Point (Solar Battery AP) is a (you guessed it) solar-powered, battery-operated device that can provide reliable network connectivity in areas where traditional mesh networks aren’t available. Available in North America in the second half of 2025, the Itron Solar Battery AP “will revolutionize networking for the gas and water industry,” according to the company.
“We aimed to create a solution that would overcome the hurdles many water and gas utilities face when transitioning from an AMR to an AMI network, while also optimizing the total cost of ownership. The Solar Battery AP achieves that,” said John Marcolini, senior vice president of Network Solutions at Itron. “We look forward to helping utilities and municipalities leverage this technology to improve the safety and reliability of the critical services that they deliver and to create new ways for them to engage with their customers.”
When deploying an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network, water and gas utilities face myriad challenges, including the aforementioned lack of power infrastructure to connect to network devices. The operational costs to rent or lease pole space, install devices, and maintain a network can often be too high to justify the benefits. The Itron Solar Battery AP addresses this challenge by enabling utilities to utilize their own assets to mount the devices, simplifying the deployment and maintenance of an AMI network and lowering its total cost of ownership. Key benefits of the Solar Battery AP include:
- Rechargeable Power Management System: An integrated solar panel generates the power required to operate the Solar Battery AP, providing mounting flexibility and eliminating the costs for a power drop and monthly power bill.
- Cost-Effective Deployment: By mounting directly to utility-owned assets, utilities can reduce costs by avoiding infrastructure agreements.
- Long-Lasting Performance: Designed to last up to 20 years in the field.
- Enhanced Connectivity: The Solar Battery AP delivers a low-latency, battery-powered mesh network, expanding connectivity for gas and water utilities.
The Solar Battery AP will be showcased in the Itron booth (1202) during the American Gas Association Operations Conference from May 4 to 8 in Colorado.
