SMART METERING TECHNOLOGY IN OPEN-PIT MINING
Project location
Rüdersdorf, Germany
Year of implementation
2026
Application
Load management, Energy management
Hardware
MID-compliant energy meters, UMG 96-PQ-L, UMG 512-PRO
Software
GridVis® Expert
Service
Consulting, Commissioning
REQUIREMENT
CEMEX Deutschland AG operates a limestone quarry, its corporate headquarters and a cement plant in Rüdersdorf, near Berlin. The site covers almost five kilometers, remote metering points could only be accessed via wireless communication, which was not available throughout the entire site. At the same time, measurement data had to be transmitted securely. Parts of the site are leased to operators of concrete, asphalt and brick manufacturing plants, requiring their electricity consumption to be metered and billed on a monthly basis. In addition, CEMEX wanted to integrate further readymix concrete plants across Germany into its metering infrastructure. As part of its long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality, the company also needed a consistent foundation for collecting, analyzing and managing its energy data.
SOLUTION
CEMEX evaluated metering solutions from several manufacturers at multiple sites before selecting Janitza for its Rüdersdorf facility. The decision was based on the broad product portfolio, the quality of the devices and the company‘s technical support. MID-compliant energy meters were installed for submetering applications, while UMG 96-PQ-L power analyzers monitor the majority of metering points. At selected medium-voltage locations, UMG 512-PRO power quality analyzers provide advanced power quality monitoring. Today, approximately 200 Janitza devices are installed across the site. To enable wireless communication, Janitza partnered with a specialized engineering company. All metering points across the extensive site were connected via LoRaWAN. The low-bandwidth wireless technology is also well suited for third-party energy meters, as transmitting meter readings is sufficient for billing purposes. For collecting, analyzing and visualizing energy data, CEMEX selected the GridVis® energy monitoring software. As a result, there was no need to implement a separate energy management system.
BENEFIT
The Janitza solution meets CEMEX‘s key requirements with open interfaces, local data storage, high-performance devices for main distribution systems, and cost-effective MIDcompliant energy meters for third-party submetering. GridVis® largely automates energy data analysis and electricity billing. The wireless infrastructure is based on an open standard and eliminates recurring fees for sensor and meter management. Even after communication outages lasting two or three days, complete meter readings can be fully recovered while all energy data remains on-site. The solution has enabled CEMEX to streamline data collection, simplify billing processes and improve the operation of energy-intensive equipment such as cement mills, resulting in greater efficiency and lower operating costs. The system is also designed to accommodate additional sites and energy sources in the future.
