Know the latest IoT Based Smart Energy System For Manufacturing Sector

The IoT technologies have gained immense popularity in the Industrial 4.0 but their entrance in the energy sector added up to their popularity. Dr. Hitesh Dutt Mathur, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani shares with Pro MFG Media the latest IoT technologies in the energy space.

IoT in recent times has gained the highest momentum and somehow ends up as a star performer of the discussion. Internet of Things (IoT) enables process automation and operational efficiency in most of the industry, such as healthcare, retail, logistics, and many more.

However, recently the IoT applications in the energy sector drew special attention from the consumer, businesses, and governments. IoT in Energy space comprises of numerous applications in smart energy management and broadly can be called a Smart Grid Scenario, an evolving concept in India. Many developed countries have strong establishments in smart grid technologies. The entire concept revolves around making the existing grid smarter and not completely renewing the existing lines or installed transformers. The process involves optimizing the device, lines, and operation centers. In terms of engineering, it's essential to create a better communication system not only with the device but also with operation centers. The technology design should be seamless with an ability to initiate immediate decisions performed by machine algorithms and not humans.

According to the energy management perspective, a smart energy system is surrounded by numerous opportunities that support saving energy, irrigating the green fields, optimizing the assets, maintaining, and minimizing the overall carbon emission, which is the ultimate objective.

The localizing of the technology will help create a smarter grid for the country, which is the final goal and, while narrowing down the technology for cities, the smart cities and smart building concepts will make a huge difference. The smart cities comprise of small clusters known as microgrids.

The Government of India and other global organizations are passionately promoting and urging institutions like Smart Energy Management to create innovative IoT solutions.

Smart Energy Management is equipped with a solar power plant and is planning to invest in renewable energy sources such as bioenergy systems. They are developing an economical fuel cell that will help to utilize the energy appropriately and also minimize the purchase of energy from the actual grid. The expectation is that all the sources perform optimally, and should be easily connected with the internet so that the entire project can be accurately monitored, controlled, and operated even from the remotest location.

According to Smart Energy Management, Electric Vehicles pose major challenges on existing grids as the plug-in electric vehicles might cause peak loads. They have attempted to create an EV battery of a larger capacity. A larger capacity EV battery will be able to charge numerous vehicles at the same time. The vehicle to Grid is a practical solution implemented by various European countries where the vehicle owner can sell its power to the grid. The energy stored in the battery will be sold to the grid, whereas the electric vehicle owners are provided with incentives.

Currently, due to the help of IoT, Smart Energy System has the electric vehicles aggregator, which is an intermediate between the electric vehicle (EV) and operator of the power grid. The EVs aggregator is responsible for the management of EVs to supply the owners with their orders and also for maximizing the profits of the power grid in the electricity market.

The energy space is witnessing numerous developments with the help of IoT.

Pro MFG Media Newsletter

Get regular manufacturing insights that matter and enable business.