MONITORING & METERING


MEASURING SUSTAINABILITY ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO


Energy Assets looks into how monitoring and metering combined with machine learning is proving ever more important in the energy and sustainability decision making process


M


etering, monitoring and data analytics have never been more important for energy


managers in industrial and commercial (I&C) settings as they plan their contribution to the ‘greening’ of Britain’s economy. The good news is that these enabling technologies are already proven as powerful tools in transforming energy efficiency in buildings. In short, metering and data are now the measure of sustainability. Industrial and commercial metering and data


specialist, Energy Assets, is working closely with private and public sector organisations to turn the half-hourly gas and electricity data delivered automatically by advanced meters into performance benchmarks that can track progress towards a lower carbon output in the I&C sector. “The availability of monitoring and reporting


portals coupled with innovations in machine learning is helping managers to cut through huge swathes of data to bring greater clarity than ever before to decision-making around energy and sustainability,” commented Stewart Love, group commercial director at Energy Assets. “With new and evolving digital tools in their


armoury, organisations are able to bear down on energy consumption, to shape their efficiency strategies and to contribute to the nation’s wider sustainability challenges on the journey to Net Zero. “This will be increasingly important as businesses


adapt to a future characterised by greater electrification, the integration of renewables and innovations in demand response.”


ENERGY SAVING SERVICES Energy Assets has developed an end-to-end suite of services to help organisations sharpen their focus on saving energy, including advanced metering, an aM&T dashboard – WebAnalyser – and an AI-informed machine learning service that progressively learns what optimal energy performance in buildings looks like – AMR DNA. “Even now, it’s still surprising how many


businesses look upon energy consumption as a fixed overhead, but with the insights available through metering and monitoring systems, managers can actively develop robust and long- term energy management practices…and save money,” said Love. “For example, according to the Department for


Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), companies with a progressive aM&T regime can achieve average energy savings of 10-15% over non-monitored estates.” WebAnalyser integrates data from gas, water


and electricity meters to give clarity over consumption profiles. This platform includes the ability to set alarms to flag deviation from


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defined consumption parameters, and to rank and compare site efficiency and carbon performance vs benchmarks over defined periods. It is also possible to track the impact of renewables on energy costs and carbon emissions, and filter building reporting by footprint area.


SUB-METERING However, according to Energy Assets, one area that is often overlooked in energy optimisation strategies is sub-metering. Love explained: “Whether it’s electricity


or water, sub-metering can be an incredibly valuable way of understanding utilities consumption…and saving money. “For larger single site operations – such as offices,


industrial plants or hospitals – sub-metering provides the ability to monitor energy usage by floorplate or function. It also enables the collection of data linked to carbon reduction obligations and the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme. “In multi-occupancy settings, such as retail


centres, service stations or transport hubs, sub- metering enables businesses to monitor their energy usage more accurately – and make positive changes – rather than being charged on a broader measure such as footprint.” Having all this data available, whether


through fiscal meters or sub-metering, offers exciting opportunities to leverage the power of machine learning.


For example, through its data analytics service –


AMR DNA – Energy Assets is helping companies analyse reams of consumption data using machine learning informed by artificial intelligence. AMR DNA uses this data to develop energy


consumption profiles and, as the dataset grows, the system can spot tell-tale ‘fingerprints’ of energy waste – such as heating or cooling controls incorrectly set – and then provide a checklist of priority actions to drive up efficiency and reduce energy costs. All the while, using meter data, the system


progressively learns what optimal performance looks like, taking account of variables such as weather information and consumption on comparative sites. This enables AMR DNA to spot patterns outside the expected norm – and once learned, it continues to analyse half hourly data progressively to provide checklists of opportunities for enhanced efficiency. “In short, machine learning does the heavy


lifting for energy managers when it comes to making sense of data,” said Love. “The software frees up staff time and enables skilled professionals to get on with managing energy performance rather than poring over data, thereby opening up more opportunities for cost savings and carbon reduction.”


Energy Assets www.energyassets.co.uk


ENERGY MANAGEMENT - Autumn 2021 9


Through its data analytics service – AMR DNA – Energy Assets is helping companies analyse reams of consumption data using machine learning informed by artificial intelligence


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