Derwent Hydro uses Anvil fixed IP SIMs for remote management

Derwent Hydro, a provider of small hydropower solutions in the UK, is using Anvil Mobile’s Simply Connect fixed IP data services to remotely monitor, manage and troubleshoot its hydro-electric power generation installations.

With full remote access to the hydro-electric control systems, Derwent engineers do not have to make long site visits for routine maintenance or service calls and also receive automatic text message alerts if there are any problems.

Derwent Hydro has integrated the Simply Connect IP data service into its own operated hydro-electric installation at Gerlan in Wales to control two 500kW Pelton turbines on the rivers Caseg and Llafar that feed into the UK’s national electricity grid.

Another fixed IP service provides remote management of a 230kW hydro-electric generator in Longbridge run by Derby City Council to power a local office building and sell additional energy back to the grid.
Anvil’s data service uses the GPRS/3G Three mobile network for coverage, but provides a private APN (Access Point Name) and fixed IP address with a highly-secure Layer 2 connection to deliver point-to-point traffic that is never exposed to a public network.

This lessens complexity and is one less point of failure in the system, making the Anvil data SIM ideal for monitoring, remote diagnostics, polling, process control and remote surveillance, as well as the ability to upload new software and reboot applications or entire systems.

Derwent works for an increasing range of customers from individuals and estates to businesses, public sector organisations, community groups and charities including Snowdonia National Park Authority, the National Trust and the Environment Agency.

‘With hydro installations spread across the country often in remote locations, the Anvil fixed IP data service provides the most flexible, reliable and cost-effective solution for managing and maintaining our hydro plants without long site visits,’ said Simon Needle at Derwent Hydroelectric Power.

‘Remote management has improved our efficiency as we can respond immediately to technical issues and changing conditions; and it has also helped us reduce our carbon footprint by eliminating unnecessary journeys. It is simple to integrate into our control systems and HMI (human, machine interface) for new sites as well as existing hydro-plants to increase the speed and level of remote support,’ said Needle.

‘The Simply Connect Service lends itself ideally to the requirements of Derwent Hydro and with the M2M market growing at over 30% per year, according to Gartner, we are able to support a wide range of robust and flexible 3G-enabled applications from smart buildings, and lighting control to meter reading and point of sale solutions,’ said Ian Philip, CEO at Anvil Mobile.

Are you constantly moving your office?

More and more people are moving offices regularly whether it is because your company is developing quickly, you're always on the move, or you are always attended different events. This process can be a difficult and a stressful task as lead times for internet connectivity are variable and can take a long time.   

Making this process as quick and easy means that people can get to work quicker, start making money, and keep client and customers happy. Anvil Mobile have made this easy with their Instant 3G Office. Instant Office provides a simple and quick way to get connectivity enabling communications to the outside world.

To see how quick and easy it is, take a look at the video below.

Broadband down again? Business grade 3G mobile broadband will keep your business working.

Broadband down again? Business grade 3G mobile broadband will keep your business working.

DSL broadband is not as reliable as old style phone lines and the time to repair is not guaranteed. This means the service can be down for considerable amounts of time without contravening any service level agreements. This causes problems for businesses where vital trade and communication is carried out using the internet. Using VoIP for phone calls is commonplace today and with no phones or internet, businesses can be crippled. There are however, solutions that are readily available to solve the problem.

There are three options shown below, a temporary fix, a permanent fix with manual intervention and a permanent fix that works automatically and retains any VPN connections to other offices.

Temporary fix - a 3G router with a business grade 3G SIM card can be rented for short term requirements. The device has Wireless LAN access and a switch can be added for more Ethernet connections if required. VoIP phones can be part of the package as well as the SIMs use Three UK's mobile coverage and VoIP traffic is not blocked over the mobile network. 

Permanent fix - manual intervention. A 3G router can be supplied and kept as a back up that can be switched on to provide internet access in less than 5 minutes. A low data use tariff keeps the service active and ready to use whenever it is needed

Permanent fix - automatic and retaining VPN capabilities. An existing DSL connection can be ported to the service or a new connection can be supplied  using a 1:1 contention, business grade internet service. A DSL router with automatic fail over to 3G is supplied and the same IP address is allocated to both the DSL connection and the 3G SIM. If DSL broadband fails for any reason, the 3G connection is activated and, as there is no change in IP address, VPN connections to other offices and/or the corporate intranet will continue to work as normal.