Feature
Keeping Manufacturing Energy Consumption Under Control
~ Smart sensors keep energy costs in industry to a minimum ~
The industrial sector accounts for 38 per cent of total global final energy use, according to a 2021 report from the International Energy Agency. As energy costs rise to record-breaking levels, manufacturers must act now to cut energy consumption and keep costs under control. Here Richard Mount, Director of Sales at ASIC design and supply company Swindon Silicon Systems, explores the essential role of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in energy management.
The price of energy has risen through the roof in recent months and price increases show no sign of stopping — energy bills are likely to increase further in October, according to Ofgem’s chief executive,
Jonathan Brearley. While household energy
bills are kept somewhat under control by the energy price cap, businesses are afforded no such luxury. With out of contract rates rising companies are looking at ways to reduce their energy usage in order to save costs.
Understanding Energy Usage
Before companies can take action to reduce their energy use, they need clear insights on how much energy is being used, where and for what. Manufacturers can deploy IoT sensors throughout a building and collect real-time data on energy consumption. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can analyse the data to develop historic trends and identify target areas within the building to improve energy use.
Richard Mount, Director of Sales at Swindon Silicon Systems
Real-time data may also be used to identify outlier trends in energy use by major systems, which is often an indicator of faulty or failing equipment. Manufacturers can act quickly to repair or replace the equipment, avoiding long periods of energy wastage.
Improved Temperature Control
According to The Carbon Trust, eleven per cent of all energy used by manufacturing is used for space heating. Temperature controls represent a significant opportunity for manufacturers to reduce energy consumption, by using IoT smart thermostats. Occupancy sensors are capable of determining the exact number of people in a space and their exact location, so HVAC systems can be turned off when a section of a manufacturing facility is empty. Long term data can produce monthly energy reports, highlighting areas where temperature control is wasting energy.
Turn Off The Lights
Another significant consumer of energy in industry is lighting — as much as 37 per cent of a warehouse or manufacturing facility’s electrical consumption is for lighting, according to Green Energy. However, a smart sensors, light
sources, 36 fmuk connectivity significant energy savings.
lighting system integrates and
analytics to make
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