THE ENERGY INTERVIEW
isolate outages , rerouting power to minimise impact .
And there are new tools . Direct Current ( DC ) technology is the most adapted for renewables as it reduces energy loss and raw materials . ABB ’ s SACE Infinitus is a world-first DC solid-state circuit breaker supporting sustainable operations . It ’ s 100 times faster with lower energy losses than AC , increasing overall efficiency by around 10 %.
Q . HOW DOES BATTERY STORAGE PLAY INTO THE FUTURE OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT ?
» Renewables are critical in the journey to net zero , but it is energy storage solutions that enable supply to match demand through local storage . This is proven technology , with customers such as Ecotricity in the UK , using BESS to store excess energy for when generation dips .
The latest BESS offers a compelling opportunity for manufacturing firms . When connected to a virtual power plant – a network of small and medium energy sources that come together to function as a single , unified plant – BESS can provide a new revenue stream for businesses through energy trading . AI and Machine Learning ( ML ) can reduce battery degradation , which will improve battery lifetime and payback time on the initial investment .
Q . HOW CAN DATA INSIGHTS BE USED TO REDUCE ENERGY USE ?
» Energy and asset management solutions monitor and analyse systems to turn data into actionable insights . Decision-makers can identify quick wins
“ The future is clearly digital ”
and reduce energy consumption while ensuring better energy security .
Pairing AI and ML can take digital systems to the next level . Systems can analyse data , establish a baseline and then operate unsupervised . They can identify different modes of operation and provide recommendations , for example to turn off an asset if the system detects potential faults .
Q . WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HUMAN WORKFORCE AND THE TECHNOLOGY BEING USED , AND HOW CAN THAT BE MANAGED TO GET THE MOST OUT OF TECHNOLOGY ?
» The future is clearly digital , so investing in a skilled workforce is vital . We need people that can leverage emerging technologies effectively with knowledge of both operational and information technology .
We are facing a skills shortage and our own research has revealed businesses are reducing investment in training their workforces in response to increased energy costs . As well as a focus on education , we can use technology to support workers and offset the skills shortage . We offer innovative new remote support services via AR , while remote maintenance enables us to reduce downtime and fix problems without an engineer visiting the site . Experts can remotely guide repairs and maintenance to support our customers with speed and agility .
16 February 2024