Orange, alongside its IoT Continuum partners Sierra Wireless, LaCroix and STMicroelectronics, has announced its support for a program rolling out energy optimization solutions across France. The project, which will take place over five years, comes from Engie subsidiary tiko, with its pipeline of energy consumption optimization solutions. 

Using Orange’s LTE-M network, these solutions would be used to help control electric appliances remotely to optimize consumers’ domestic heating consumption.

Entering the market in 2012, tiko connects to electrical appliances such as heaters and adapts them according to a user’s habits, using these trends to improve household energy efficiency and enable significant cost savings as a result. Tiko estimates that using these solutions could allow 9.2 million households to save as much as 35% in energy costs. 

As part of the latest agreement with tiko, Orange Business Services will provide LTE-M connectivity for 800,000 devices which will be deployed over five years in France. Under the deal, Sierra Wireless will provide cellular modules, LaCroix will manufacture devices at its French manufacturing locations, and STMicroelectronics will advise tiko on the best semiconductor for the projects. 

If successful, the rollout could be extended to other European countries. 

“We will deliver our solution to as many French households equipped with electric radiators as possible,” said Frederic Gastaldo, tiko’s president of services. “It will also allow them, through their participation in our virtual power plant, to reduce the reliance on gas or coal-fired power plants. A heater equipped with tiko will prevent the emission of two to three additional tons of CO2 per year during this critical period.”