An EE Times article by Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio
The internet of things promotes process automation and operational efficiency across a wide range of industries, including logistics, manufacturing and retail. Consumers and businesses are paying special attention to IoT applications in the energy sector, which is reinforced by the presence of regulations regarding CO2 emissions management.
In addition to the numerous advantages for the electricity supply chain, IoT energy management systems pave the way for new, smarter infrastructures that promise significant cost savings, improved safety and enhanced efficiency.
Financial gain is one of the main reasons why firms are looking into IoT capabilities for energy savings. All industrial participants may better manage costs and investments and reduce waste thanks to smart meters, real-time energy monitoring and data-driven forecasts.
To keep up with new regulations, which are generally aimed at reducing emissions, the energy industry has undergone massive transformations. Companies are increasingly integrating IoT software and hardware for energy consumption and management, as well as other solutions into their operations to reduce their carbon footprint and develop future-oriented strategies with the objective of becoming a 100% green company.
In general, homeowners do not actively monitor their energy consumption on a daily or real-time basis: Monthly reports and utility bills illustrate past energy consumption, but it is essential to act immediately. Engagement and awareness are equally essential in commercial buildings, but automated monitoring provides the most value.
Wi-Fi–enabled LED lights can be programmed to turn on and off based on routines, motion or sound to conserve energy. Through the customizability of IoT lighting systems, businesses can benefit from more energy-efficient lighting solutions and reduce the amount of time lights and appliances remain on. The enormous energy reductions have a positive effect on finances and can contribute to a sustainable workplace.
Energy management
Buildings account for over 40% of worldwide energy use and 70% of electricity use. Given that we spend most of our time inside of them, these statistics are likely not shocking.
To keep their commitments and achieve their aims to lessen their influence on issues big and small, from global climate change to concern for local ecosystems, more and more businesses in a variety of vertical industries are putting strategies in place to make their facilities more environmentally sensitive.
Plans may be made to cut energy use whenever feasible by measuring energy using IoT devices, which will save money and resources. Commercial areas are one industry where IoT monitoring is being widely adopted. Variations in client traffic at retail establishments frequently result in variations in demand for large-energy–consumption appliances like air conditioners.
In Taiwan, a significant mobile phone service provider has installed an IoT system at its retail locations for this very purpose. They were able to quickly monitor energy use and customer traffic in each store by linking each one to a central monitoring system, and they were able to regulate the use of the air conditioner accordingly to maintain a comfortable environment while using less electricity (Figure 1).
Figure 1: The SRG-3352 IoT gateway was implemented in a Taiwanese building to track and manage power usage in each store. (Source: AAEON)
Remote monitoring
Sensors, modems, microcontrollers and other pertinent components are included in IoT-based energy-monitoring systems to enhance the energy management process.
Without the industrial IoT (IIoT), gathering operational data about a machine’s state and performance necessitates a human visit. Remote monitoring is a method for obtaining comprehensive, real-time performance data. The information may then be examined for trends and relationships that influence the overall efficiency and output of the equipment.
One use for AI would be to make forecasts about how much energy would be produced. In this situation, a more precise analysis may be done in terms of forecasting appliance consumption and anticipating user behaviors by utilizing deep-learning methods and neural networks.
Energy-efficiency solutions in the IIoT may record information on each industrial machine’s energy usage, as well as process operating parameters like temperature, pressure and operating speed. This data may be evaluated to find connections and potential applications to gradually change energy usage and create company sustainability goals. In its massive Texas buildings, Silicon Labs has developed a digitization program. These structures receive daily use from more than 800 individuals, which uses a lot of power.
Peak energy usage can surpass 800 kW during business hours. In 2019, more than 8,500 MWh of energy were consumed annually, according to Silicon Labs. This amounts to yearly power expenses of more than $1 million at $0.09/kWh. According to Silicon Labs, an IoT policy has improved consumption and yearly expenditures. The building has hundreds of sensors installed by Silicon Labs, including meters with internet connectivity and occupancy sensors.
Silicon Labs teamed up with a nearby Texas business, SmarteBuilding, to start gathering real-time data to identify potential energy profiles. Altering the buildings’ heating and cooling schedules was one alteration. To automate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control, additional algorithms and cloud services are being applied to building energy management data.
Benefits
The IoT has been around long enough to reap the rewards of smart, grid-based IoT energy management for large cities. Companies all around the world have embraced smart energy management systems because they offer a boost in energy efficiency over conventional technology.
Energy prices have risen at a record rate over the last two years. Depending on the location, the price of energy climbed from the first half of 2021 to the end of 2022 by anywhere between 13% and 135%. It is understandable that energy conservation has risen to the top of the priority list for many businesses given the huge cost rise. Therefore, cutting energy costs is crucial for lowering overhead and raising earnings.
Energy savings, for instance, happen when the lighting system consumes the least amount of energy feasible while providing a suitable level of illumination. Real-time data updates from sensors and fast action from actuators are required for this to occur. Delays in actuator response times result in wasted energy. Many IoT systems operate on a client-server model, in which all communications occur through a central cloud server, which can cause latency and delays in communications.
The capability to continuously monitor and modify energy use is another important advantage of real-time data in energy management. For instance, keeping track of an HVAC system’s energy usage enables you to determine whether it is operating inefficiently or failing to shut down on schedule. This information might be used to alert maintenance staff so they can provide the necessary support.
When an issue is detected, a smart HVAC system may instantly transmit notifications to a maintenance worker’s smartphone or smartwatch thanks to the connection of an IoT system. This means that these gadgets can speak to one another directly through point-to-point communication or with a centralized system over the cloud. This implies that you may check on an IoT system’s energy use from a distance using a PC or even a smartphone.
Figure 2: The topology of an IoT-based energy management system (Source: Phoenix Contact)
Energy storage
IoT-based devices offer excellent use for energy storage in unforeseen circumstances. The market for energy storage is expanding because of recent IoT advancements in smart cities. A proper energy storage system must be implemented to control renewable energy sources and lower the cost of energy generation and delivery.
In the case of blackouts or other issues, storage often helps consumers preserve energy independence and durability. Due to the fluctuating nature of renewable energy sources, electric facilities must extend the load cycle to satisfy demand, which has an impact on operating and maintenance costs. Numerous benefits of energy storage include load demand reduction, voltage stability, emergency power and energy balance.
Future trends
What developments in IoT for energy management may we anticipate in the near future? The market for IoT energy management is expanding at an intriguing rate because of its clear advantages. The projected compound annual growth rate of the IoT energy industry is predicted to be higher than 25% by experts. In other words, the market will increase by about 25% annually.
The adoption of energy-saving solutions might be delayed by compatibility, which is a particularly annoying issue in energy management. Consequently, the need to improve interoperability across various devices, apps and systems is currently one of the largest IoT themes. In other words, there should not be any additional software, hardware or settings required for any device in an IoT system to connect with any other device or IoT system in a plug-and-play approach.
One of the main components of a thorough digital transformation of manufacturing organizations is the reduction of energy costs and the optimization of production processes. Businesses can boost machinery efficiency, shorten production times and produce better products by implementing modern smart-manufacturing and energy-efficiency technologies.
