The European Smart Metering Industry Group (ESMIG) has endorsed Zigbee's Smart Energy standard as a means to make smart metering applications in Europe a reality.
Zigbee Smart Energy was developed through collaboration between utility companies and product makers in response to a demand for a wireless standard for energy management.
It allows wireless two-way communication between utility companies and common household devices.
There are an estimated 2,000 electric, water and gas utility service providers in the EU.
Each has particular needs that will require a standardised approach to deliver the efficiency, cost savings and environmental benefits expected from smart metering.
'ESMIG is working to speed the adoption of smart metering in Europe, and Zigbee Smart Energy can play a strong role in helping Europe achieve its smart metering goals today,' said Bob Heile, chairman of the Zigbee Alliance, a group of companies creating Zigbee-based wireless products.
The news follows on from a recent announcement that the US Department of Energy had selected the Zigbee standard, as part of a collection of standards that will form the backbone of the US Smart Grid, a system that would employ real-time, two-way communications to allow users to connect directly with power suppliers.
Earlier this month, the Zigbee Alliance said that it is proposing that the Zigbee standard be used as the basis of an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard.
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