If you really want to save energy, you need to know the key consumption figures. There is no getting around digital monitoring here. Municipal utilities in particular can benefit from products and services that specialize in energy monitoring.
Sustainability is the topic of the moment. Of course, energy management and resource conservation should have been a top priority decades ago. However, in times of raw material shortages, companies are now even more aware of how important it is to use energy correctly – not only to protect the climate, but also to keep their own company competitive. Today’s generation is highly sensitized to climate-friendly processes and does not want to work for or with companies that continue to overexploit the planet. So now is the perfect time to take advantage of the many opportunities to save energy and benefit directly. The key, however, is to recognize where the most energy is consumed and how the energy required can be efficiently distributed and saved. Municipal utilities harbor the greatest potential for the energy transition here, as this is where the energy hotspot is, so to speak. But how can proper energy management be practiced here?
Digital tools provide all the necessary information
Recording and evaluating energy consumption data only really makes sense in digital form, as manual documentation and evaluations take far more time and would provide significantly distorted results. The main building block is therefore the development and networking of digital and smart measurement technology as well as a central platform on which all collected data is bundled and precisely evaluated. Smart monitoring solutions can be used to identify potential for improvement in energy systems in the shortest possible time and, above all, to substantiate this using figures – whether in urban facilities, production sites or other commercial and industrial locations. All it takes: The ability to continuously send data from A to B in a stable way – for example via LoRaWAN, Ethernet, mobile radio or other digital paths.
Smart monitoring is not a cost driver
Anyone who thinks you have to make large investments for intelligent monitoring of energy data is mistaken. Setting up and using LoRaWAN networks, for example, is ideal for municipal applications in particular. Energy management does not require a data depth in the seconds range. Cheaper measuring devices can also be used. Even setting up the network is not a cost driver. In many places, there are already publicly usable networks that have already been set up by municipal utilities. Production companies, for example, can also benefit from expanded Ethernet networks that can be used for digital measuring devices. When it comes to software, however, it is important to ensure that the generally accepted communication standards are met so that the data can be reliably transmitted. Closed systems are rather unsuitable here, as flexibility is often greatly reduced and more effort – and therefore costs – have to be invested in data exchange.
Continuous monitoring – hard facts instead of guesswork
The fact is: concrete, meaningful figures are needed that can show energy consumption and its savings potential. This only works if stable, continuous monitoring has been established. Automated measurement and analysis processes and intuitive operation are required to achieve the necessary transparency. This means that the data evaluation can be expanded by all employees both flexibly and independently by adding new measuring points. The software must be able to provide statistical evaluations in order to be able to deliver consumption models and efficiency proposals.
Important for municipal utilities: In their role as regional basic suppliers, they can have a direct positive influence on the energy efficiency of their customers through their product range and services. External energy managers, for example, could be a way of tailoring their own products and services to the individual requirements of their customers. If, for example, it becomes clear on the basis of the evaluation of energy consumption that a combined heat and power plant makes sense for a customer in the area of electricity and heat generation, this could be put together into a personalized product package that includes further follow-up services.
Another key point: the CO2 balance
CO2 balancing is another application that is emerging from digital and automated energy management. If all consumption data is available, essential parts of the balancing process can be automated by the software within seconds, resulting in enormous time savings. This means that municipal utilities can carry out CO2 balances for certain companies or municipalities in the shortest possible time and support them with additional services.
Well-developed, digital energy management therefore offers numerous opportunities and starting points for tackling the current challenges of resource scarcity and rising prices. Many cities and regions already offer established infrastructures. So now is the perfect time to make use of them and gradually immerse yourself in the world of digital and automated energy management.
About KENEXOS®
With Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH (KBS for short), Kreutzpointner is setting a significant milestone in the technical development of the entire group of companies. Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH focuses on the special requirements and digital needs of industrial customers with an independent business model. The operational launch took place in October 2020.
With KENEXOS®, KBS offers corporate customers an individually expandable application platform with its own software products and focuses on the implementation of industrial applications. KENEXOS® offers modern web technology for access via a wide range of end devices and enables integration with existing systems via an API interface. The standard modules include, for example, construction site documentation, task and ticket recording, plant management and maintenance and many more. The application platform is available for in-house installation (on-premise) or as a cloud solution (SaaS).
The ideas and the technical basis for Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH have been successfully developed in recent years as part of the company-wide “Research & Development” process. In addition to the IT systems division, the new digital unit ideally rounds off Kreutzpointner’s large portfolio.
