The Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI, President Kim Young-sam) is taking the lead in expanding ultrasonic smart gas meters, a key element of smart cities.

On the 23rd, KETI signed a 'Business Agreement for Manufacturing and Supply of Ultrasonic Smart Gas Meters' with Samchully Co., Ltd. (CEO Jae-kwon Yoo), Dongil Engineering Co., Ltd. (CEO Dong-il Son), I&C Technology Co., Ltd. (CEO Chang-il Park), Bitsrocell Co., Ltd. (CEO Seung-guk Jang), GMS (CEO Yun-ho Kang), and Jain Co., Ltd. (CEO Gyeong-am Park) at its headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do.

This agreement is a preparatory step for the full-scale distribution of ultrasonic smart gas meters, and was promoted to strengthen cooperation between KETI, the original technology support organization, Samchully Co., Ltd., the gas meter demand company, and gas meter manufacturing and supply companies.

Ultrasonic smart gas meters are devices that precisely measure the flow rate of gas using electronic ultrasonic sensors without mechanical moving parts. They are attracting attention as next-generation meters that will lead the digital transformation of the gas industry due to their higher accuracy and durability compared to existing membrane (diaphragm) meters.

Through this MOU, KETI and six companies will: △promote and select member companies for mass production and distribution of ultrasonic gas meters; △provide administrative, technical, and other support necessary for the ultrasonic smart gas meter alliance; They agreed to cooperate on matters deemed necessary for the development of the Ultrasonic Smart Gas Meter Alliance, including human resources and educational support.

To address the high price issue that has been pointed out as an obstacle to the spread of smart gas meters, KETI has developed dedicated system semiconductors to secure cost competitiveness and has laid the foundation for establishing an ultrasonic smart gas meter supply chain by fully localizing core components and equipment technologies such as ultrasonic sensors, flow measurement modules, wireless communication/security chips, and dedicated batteries through cooperation with related companies.

In addition, since 2019, the company has been at the forefront of supporting the gas AMI platform and smart gas meter standard technology of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's gas AMI demonstration project.

Furthermore, the formation of this Smart Gas Meter Alliance is expected to support users' rational energy consumption and contribute to securing gas big data for data utilization businesses to create new businesses.

KETI President Kim Young-sam said, “This agreement is very significant in that it builds a digital ecosystem for the gas industry through cooperation between research institutes and demand and supply companies,” and added, “KETI will do its best to develop promising technologies related to it, such as an energy big data platform, in line with the government’s 2050 carbon neutrality policy.”