Global supply chains are increasingly demand transparency about greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the index of ESG and committed to Net Zero. The use of energy efficient not only advantage is that is becoming a criterion of survival with many businesses.
Software energy management advent as a tool to convert numbers essential. Not to completely replace the human, which is to provide businesses an intuitive system transparent real-time support management decisions based on data instead of hunches. In particular, this is also a stepping stone to help business step by step approach to standards such as ISO 50001, GHG Protocol, report sustainable development. The same Lac Viet Computing find out details in this article.
1. Overview of software energy management
1.1. Management software what is energy?
Software energy management is a technology platform designed to help businesses monitor, analyze, optimize the use of energy in the entire operating system – production. This software collects the data directly from devices such as power meter, sensor, heat, water, gas... display results in a chart, clear reports help users easily track put out of action in a timely manner.
Different from traditional management to general craft software works automatically, continuously, and have the ability to detect abnormalities such as which devices power consumption exceeds the standard, the area would be the use of mutants.
1.2. Ingredients basic structure of the system
A software energy management usually consists of three main parts:
- Equipment data acquisition (Data Acquisition Devices): This may be the sensor, power meter, water meters, pressure equipment... The equipment will be installed at the point of primary energy consumption in the enterprise to collect data in real time.
- Software platform (Software Platform): Is the “brain” of the system, where the reception processing the entire data. The software will calculate the analysis to give a warning when it detects unusual or beyond the threshold. A number of modern software also integrates artificial intelligence AI to forecast energy demand, proposed calendar optimum operation.
- Display interface report (Dashboard & Reports): This is the part that users, even non-specialized can reach easily. The data is visualization with charts, heat maps, or tables, general help leaders quickly grasped the situation.
2. The feature highlights business should be interested in when choosing software, energy management
Not every software energy management are the same. Some merely collect metering data while the software can better become the assistant operational intelligence for both parts and technical leadership. Below are the core features that your business needs priority selection, along with specific value that each feature brings.
2.1. Monitoring the consumption of electricity, water, gas, steam... from many source devices
The software should have the ability to collect data from many different types of devices: electric meter, sensor, measuring temperature, measuring equipment, water flow, measuring systems compressed air, steam, water... this is especially important for businesses that have operations varied production or use multiple energy sources at the same time.
Instead of just look at the total amount of your monthly consumption, businesses can:
- Know exactly any area, any device energy consumption the most
- Comparison between the work shifts, necklaces or different buildings
- Proactive coordination device to reduce the load of rush hour or avoid waste operation is not necessary
2.2. Warning abnormalities consumption exceeds the threshold
One other important feature is the ability to set warning threshold (custom) to detect abnormalities in energy consumption. For example, when an air compressor power consumption exceeds the average by 20% in 3 days in a row, the system will send alerts via email or displayed directly on the dashboard.
Values bring:
- Early detection of potential issues such as leaks, the machine works wrong parameters
- Reduce loss costs due to attrition does not control
- Avoid a disruption in the production and maintenance of passive
Not only saves but also maintenance support slave devices increase operating life.
2.3. Chart dashboard visually easy to understand
Not anyone may read the technical data in detail, so the software should have the display interface is friendly to allow users at many different levels from technician to ceo can read and understand information extraction.
- Leadership easily understand the trend of energy consumption over time
- Internal meetings or synthesis report becomes convinced more transparent
- Easy to build KPI energy savings by department or specific area
The chart like: the column comparison, heat map, pie chart according to each production shift... the decision is no longer based in feelings.
2.4. Auto report according to the standard ISO 50001/GHG Protocol
Many businesses have trouble setting up required to report energy or emissions according to international standards because of lack of tools synthetic or don't know the math properly. An optimization software need to support automatic establishment of periodic reports, export file form ISO 50001 (energy management) and the GHG Protocol (reporting greenhouse gas).
Values bring:
- Save time and manpower in the synthesis of data processing
- To limit errors increase the reliability of the report when working with a partner, audit
- Get ready for the certificate request, tender or international accreditation
Especially with the business strategy, sustainable development, or have announced their commitment to Net Zero, the periodic report will be clear evidence of progress and responsibility.
2.5. Scalability, integration, IoT, SCADA system or software business management
Business should not choose software “closed” difficult to integrate or restricted according to the rigid models. An ideal solution should support connectivity with IoT devices, SCADA systems or other ERP software is to build the ecosystem to operate in sync.
Values bring:
- Easy to scale as your business grows, open more factories or branches
- Sync data management – finance – manufacturing – energy on the same platform
- Reduce investment risk return software, when structural change operation
For example, Businesses can integrate software energy with the system in order to adjust the work shift, reasonable, reduced power consumption in peak hours.
In summary, choosing the right software to manage energy not only is the story of technical features, which is to decide the strategy to help businesses operate streamlined, transparent and more sustainable. Select software not only to “measure” but also to “the correct decision more and more every day.”
3. The business group is suitable to application software, energy management
Management software, energy is not a solution just for large corporations or the business has available automation system. On the contrary, this tool is suitable with many kind of business as long as they are in demand to reduce energy costs, operate more efficiently meet the requirements of emission. Here are four typical subjects should consider deploying this software as soon as possible.
3.1. Business manufacturing (light industry, heavy industry)
This is the group energy consumption at a high level constantly. Many plants use equipment big capacity, such as furnaces, cooling system, air compressor, automatic line... that the cost of energy gained considerable importance in the total operating costs.
If there is no system monitoring, business will be difficult to realize where is the device drain abnormal operation is not effective or what time of day arising highest cost.
Value the software brings:
- Optimal production schedule in order to avoid power consumption in peak hours
- Timely detection devices power consumption exceeds the standard or degradation
- Waste reduction in operating performance enhancing overall
For example, A garment factory scale 400 workers in Binh Duong application software to monitor power each passes from which the distribution equipment suitable for each shift, save more than 12% of the cost of electricity in 6 months.
3.2. Office building, hospital, commercial center
This group usually has many systems operate continuously as central air conditioning, elevator, lighting, water systems hot/cold... to serve the needs using fluctuating according to the season.
Energy costs difficult to control because of the evenly split for many parts of the area. Building management often only know the total amount of electricity but does not know that area is wasted or used inefficiently.
Value the software brings:
- Track the consumption in each floor, each region or according to hours of operation
- Help to adjust your device settings according to the actual performance (e.g., reduce the conditioning at the end of the week, turn off the lights automatically outside office hours)
- Automatic reporting for investors, rental unit or department financial
3.3. Logistics, cold storage, data center (data center)
This is the group characteristics, use device to operate 24/7, requires high stability, power consumption, but is very sensitive to the incident (just a small glitch can also cause major losses).
Consumption data are often very large, strong fluctuations in seasonal or time of day. Not monitored in real time, easily lead to waste and can't optimized process heating, cooling, or maintenance.
Value the software brings:
- In-depth analysis performance cooling system, central air conditioning
- Warning when the device has signs of unusual activity
- Optimizing the heat settings according to the actual load (load), avoid excessive cooling
For example, An arsenal of specialized cold storage frozen food has fallen 18% of the electricity costs, thanks to the software proposed maintenance scheduling condenser and adjust the temperature flexible according to the type of cargo storage.
3.4. Businesses in the supply chain must meet the standard emission
Increasingly many global corporations, especially in the fashion industry, electronics, food... requires providers to publish data emission along demonstrate efforts to reduce emissions in the production process, packing, shipping.
Many Vietnamese enterprises have not tracking system, emission or measure energy consumption in a scientific way lead to removal from the large orders due to lack of transparency.
Value the software brings:
- Give the data of energy consumption according to each specific activity
- Support reporting greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, CH₄...) according to the standard, GHG Protocol
- Enhance credibility, the ability to compete in the global supply chain
Software energy management is not a tool luxuries that are practical solutions can be flexible deployment at any scale business, every industry. Important is the business to realize the math of what is his – and software can solve it by data and transparent effect.
4. Software solutions to manage energy from Vietnam
4.1. Solution overview: tracking energy in real time, emissions reporting, dashboard transparent
Software solutions measure and manage energy due to Lac development is a comprehensive system to help businesses monitor, analyze, optimize energy usage in real time. The software integrates directly with the measuring equipment, such as electric meter, flow sensor air, water, or temperature, allows collecting data continuously, automatically accurate.
Instead of waiting to the end of the month to get your bills then try to analyze manually, the system will help users:
- Track energy consumption by region, device, line in real time
- Display data visually through the dashboard, chart, heat map
- Early detection of abnormalities, alert threshold, recorded incidents to handle quickly
- Set up periodic reports on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions standards GHG Protocol
With easy to use interface, software, suitable for both technical department and management to help connect information between the floors that operate without in-depth expertise about IT.
4.2. Pros: deployment flexibility to scale to meet ISO 50001, data integration operation
A difference highlights of the solution Lac Viet is highly flexible and can be deployed in small steps, in accordance with the ability to invest the level of readiness of the business. Whether you are a large plant is in operation, many lines or just a unit logistics or office buildings, the solution can configured in accordance with the scale to actual needs.
The software is also designed to support business:
- Meet the requirements of energy management according to ISO 50001
- Report emissions in accordance with the requirements of the program ESG
- Integrated with the content management system as ERP, SCADA, IoT
This helps businesses to avoid “one-time investment and then remove”, but instead may expand gradually phased development – from track power alone to manage the entire energy ecosystem operation.
4.3. Values bring: cost savings, support, reporting ESG, enhance competitiveness
More important than the features, the solution of Lac Viet direction to the actual value long term for business:
- Save operating costs: By monitoring and detection points consumption unreasonable, businesses can reduce from 5 to 20% in energy costs each year, especially in the industry has a high consumption.
- Support report sustainability (ESG): When the partners, investors require transparency about the environmental impact, the software helps businesses do not report only correctly but also demonstrate efforts to reduce emissions based on the data clearly.
- Enhance competitiveness: In international tenders, global supply chain or in cooperation with the unit FDI, owning a system of energy management, it, transparency is huge plus point to assert professional reputation.
- Meet the roadmap Net Zero: With the business aim to develop sustainable, long-term software to help track emissions fact, from that, develop a roadmap to reduce emissions feasible, rather than just the commitment on paper.
Software power management of Lac Viet is not just a technology solution that is platform that helps business owners save transparency in the operation to proceed further on the transition to green. Get advice, 1:1 expert to build the roadmap for a fit with your business at: https://lacviet.vn/giai-phap-quan-ly-nang-luong-va-giam-phat-thai-carbon
