What is energy management software solution and Why Do We Use Them?

A system of computer-aided tools

Please visit our website for more information on this topic.

An energy management system (EMS) is a system of computer-aided tools used by operators of electric utility grids to monitor, control, and optimize the performance of the generation or transmission system. Also, it can be used in small scale systems like microgrids.[1][2]

Terminology

The computer technology is also referred to as SCADA/EMS or EMS/SCADA. In these respects, the terminology EMS then excludes the monitoring and control functions, but more specifically refers to the collective suite of power network applications and to the generation control and scheduling applications.

Manufacturers of EMS also commonly supply a corresponding dispatcher training simulator (DTS). This related technology makes use of components of SCADA and EMS as a training tool for control center operators.

Operating systems

Up to the early s it was common to find EMS systems being delivered based on proprietary hardware and operating systems. Back then EMS suppliers such as Harris Controls (now GE), Hitachi, Cebyc, Control Data Corporation, Siemens and Toshiba manufactured their own proprietary hardware. EMS suppliers that did not manufacture their own hardware often relied on products developed by Digital Equipment, Gould Electronics and MODCOMP. The VAX 11/780 from Digital Equipment was a popular choice amongst some EMS suppliers. EMS systems now rely on a model based approach. Traditional planning models and EMS models were always independently maintained and seldom in synchronism with each other. Using EMS software allows planners and operators to share a common model reducing the mismatch between the two and cutting model maintenance by half. Having a common user interface also allows for easier transition of information from planning to operations.

As proprietary systems became uneconomical, EMS suppliers began to deliver solutions based on industry standard hardware platforms such as those from Digital Equipment (later Compaq, then HP), IBM and Sun. The common operating system then was either DEC OpenVMS or Unix. By , various EMS suppliers including Alstom, ABB and OSI had begun to offer Windows based solutions. By customers had a choice of UNIX, Linux or Windows-based systems. Some suppliers including ETAP, NARI, PSI-CNI and Siemens continue to offer UNIX-based solutions. It is now common for suppliers to integrate UNIX-based solutions on either the Sun Solaris or IBM platform. Newer EMS systems based on blade servers occupy a fraction of the space previously required. For instance, a blade rack of 20 servers occupy much the same space as that previously occupied by a single MicroVAX server.

See also

References

Further reading

• EPRI () Advanced Control Room Energy Management System: Requirements and Implementation Guidance. Palo Alto, CA. EPRI report .
• EEMUA 191 Alarm Systems &#; A Guide to Design, Management and Procurement () ISBN 0--076-0
• ASM Consortium () &#; Effective Alarm Management Practices ISBN 978-1---1
• ANSI/ISA&#;18.2&#; &#; Management of Energy Systems for the Process Industries
• IEC Management of Energy systems for the process industries

An EMS is a strategic investment that aligns economic benefits with sustainable practices, enhancing operations and corporate social responsibility. With the ever-growing demand for electricity and other energy resources, energy management system implementation can provide numerous advantages to organizations.

  1. Budgetary Advantages

An effective EMS allows you to identify energy inefficiencies and informs decisions on making improvements which typically leads to reduced costs in energy consumption and overall operations. Participation in demand response programs becomes feasible, offering potential financial incentives while supporting grid stability.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website acrel.

  2. Energy Tracking

The real-time monitoring and optimization capabilities of an EMS lead to improved energy efficiency, reducing both operational expenses and environmental impact.

  3. Regulatory Compliance

The comprehensive tracking and reporting tools that a robust EMS software provides help to more effectively adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements by alerting you to anomalies and activity that may produce compliance risks.

  4. Visibility

Dashboards provide comprehensive human-readable data analytics at a glance to let you know what's going on as it's happening. This visibility empowers companies to make informed decisions on the spot and enables them to be more agile in their approach to energy management.

  5. Predictive Analytics

An EMS platform can provide advanced real-time data analysis to anticipate repair and upkeep needs. These predictive maintenance capabilities help minimize downtime and extend equipment life cycles.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website energy management software solution.