The Need for a Comprehensive Energy Management Information System for Industries

Abstract

Electricity costs in South Africa are increasing rapidly, and the funding hurdle rates for energy conservation incentives are decreasing. Therefore, with rising international competition and increasing operational costs, marginal industries need to focus on energy management strategies where larger savings can be achieved with lower capital expenditure. This paper sketches the need for a comprehensive energy management information system (EMIS). Common industrial energy management pitfalls are identified and energy conservation incentives are outlined. New focus points that improve client awareness and in turn improve the sustainability of energy management interventions are also highlighted. However, benefitting from energy incentives is becoming more complex. Therefore, many clients do not benefit from these incentives unless specialised Energy Service Companies (ESCos) are employed. ESCos, however, require large amounts of data to manage clients' energy effectively. Herein lies the need for a comprehensive EMIS that aids ESCos and their clients with the energy management process. An EMIS was developed and implemented for several industries in South Africa. Data is automatically collected, processed, analysed, and presented on a daily basis. A case study investigates the exorbitant amounts of data and reports that are managed automatically, which further highlights the need for a comprehensive EMIS. OPSOMMINGDie koste van elektrisiteit in Suid-Afrika neem vinnig toe en die befondsing struikelblok vir energiebesparing innovasie is besig om weg te kwyn. Met die toenemende internasionale mededinging en bedryfskostes moet marginale industrieë fokus op energiebestuurstrategieë wat groter besparings kan bewerkstellig met laer kapitaalbesteding. Hierdie artikel skets die behoefte vir ʼn omvattende energiebestuur inligtingstelsel. Algemene industriële energiebestuur slaggate word geïdentifiseer en energiebesparingsinsentiewe word uiteengesit. Nuwe fokuspunte wat kliënt-bewustheid verbeter en dus die volhoubaarheid van energiebestuur verbeter word uitgelig. Om voordeel te trek uit energiebesparingsinsentiewe word meer kompleks en baie kliënte trek nie voordeel daaruit tensy daar van energiediensmaatskappye gebruik gemaak word nie. Energiediensmaatskappye benodig egter groot hoeveelhede data om hul kliënte se energie doeltreffend te bestuur. Die behoefte lê dus in ʼn alomvattende energiebestuur inligtingstelsel wat energiediensmaatskappye en hul kliënte kan bystaan. So ʼn inligtingstelsel is ontwikkel en geïmplementeer by verskeie industrieë in Suid-Afrika. Data word outonoom bymekaargemaak, geprosesseer, geanaliseer en voorgehou op ʼn daaglikse basis. ʼn Gevallestudie ondersoek die buitensporige data volumes en verslae wat outonoom genereer word. Dit beklemtoon die behoefte vir ʼn alomvattende energiebestuur inligtingstelsel. In energy-strapped environments, like South Africa, incentive and rebate programmes provide crucial financial and legislatorial assistance to the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors ...

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