PEA Wins Four Awards at International Invention Fair in Germany
Thailand's Provincial Electricity Authority won four awards at the iENA 2026 invention fair in Nuremberg, Germany, including a gold medal for a smart streetlight controller that cuts energy waste. A second innovation, a digital meter-testing tool that automates inspections and reporting, earned an honorable mention. The awards highlight PEA's push for energy efficiency and operational modernization.
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) won four innovation awards from two entries at the international "International Trade Fair-Ideas, Inventions and New Products" (iENA 2026), held from October 31 to November 2, 2026, in Nuremberg, Germany.
The awards PEA received are as follows:
Gold Medal, Special Prize from the Korean Invention Promotion Association, and NRCT Special Award from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) for the Smart Lighting Controller. This device uses a small solar panel to detect light intensity instead of a conventional LDR sensor, enabling precise detection of light changes at dawn and dusk. It works with a microcontroller to process and distinguish sunlight from external light interference, solving the problem of streetlights flickering at night caused by light reflecting back onto the sensor. A built-in time-delay system prevents switching from momentary light disturbances. The solar panel also withstands UV radiation, making it suitable for long-term outdoor installation with accurate light detection. This innovation reduces unnecessary lighting by at least one hour per day, cuts electricity losses, and promotes efficient and sustainable energy use.
NRCT Honorable Mention Award from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) for the Alternative Meter Accuracy Calculation (A-MAC) tool. This innovation was developed to improve the efficiency of meter and current transformer (CT) inspections by PEA. It integrates measuring instruments with a mobile app and website, capable of testing meters of all sizes — single-phase, three-phase, and CT-mounted meters — while automatically calculating error margins, displaying results, and transmitting data in real time to a central database. The system can print standard forms, log meter replacements, and generate reports automatically, reducing work time, minimizing data-entry errors, increasing accuracy and transparency, enabling traceability, and helping reduce the organization's lost units. It also supports expansion into an enterprise-wide operational standard for PEA.
News / Photos: Innovation Division, Research, Innovation and Equipment Quality Control Department.
