Is Renewable Energy merely a means to fill up the gap left by conventional energy generation capacity or resources? Or it is a ‘clean energy’ being leveraged to reduce the carbon emissions… yes of course.. But there are some major fringe benefits of following the RE path for fulfilling our rising energy demands..

The initiatives in the RE utilization have driven a whole new wave of Innovation in different fields of technologies. In fact, it has contributed to the evolution of a new Renewable Fuel: “The Fifth Fuel” in a big way.

DID YOU KNOW? There is a renewable-energy resource that is perfectly clean, remarkably cheap, surprisingly abundant and immediately available. It has potential to reduce the carbon emissions that threaten our planet, our dependency on oil imports that threaten our economy, and energy costs that threaten our wallets. It does not pollute, does not depend on weather, does not inflate prices and does not take a decade to build.

This miracle resource is better known across the world by the distinctively boring name of “Energy Efficiency”. It turns out that it is much less expensive, less destructive and less time-intensive to reduce demand through efficiency than to increase supply through new drilling or new power plants.

Energy Efficiency is appropriately considered today as the 5^th Fuel to serve our increasing energy requirement.

Energy efficiency has today become the largest energy source. It is bigger than OIL, and much bigger than WIND, SOLAR, HYDROELECTRIC POWER & BIO-FUELS combined. The utilization of this “5^th Fuel” is clean, possible and profitable, generating millions n billions of “NEGAWATTS” tirelessly & endlessly.

You would ask, why am I giving credit to the RE for driving Energy Efficiency movement & Innovations in a big way? Well, for one, initially the cost of RE generation was pretty high which led to finding ways to optimize and reduce the consumption without compromising the comforts, needs and even “wants” of the consumers – “Necessity is the mother of Invention” … A case in point is “Solar Energy” – The PV Solar is still in the stage where the Generation Cost per Unit (KWh) is still much higher than the comfort level of the Eco-system, particularly at KW scale, where it can really help in evolution of truly Hybrid & Distributed Micro Grids.

If you had Rs.1000 Crores to invest, would you invest it on the supply or the demand side? Keeping in mind that a penny saved is penny earned, but in power context, it is well know fact that a unit (of electricity i.e. KWh) saved is equivalent to 2.5 to 3 units generated.

Energy use is a big challenge for ours, and the next Generations! “The same way of thinking that got us into trouble won’t get us out of it.”

At the heart of the worldwide rollout of Smart Meters and the Smart Grid Network Infrastructure, lies the goal of Energy Efficiency from the Generation, Transmission and Distribution to the End Customer. The Key Economic & Social Driver for “SMART GRID” Initiatives Globally is nothing but “Energy Efficiency”. Governments worldwide are mandating improved Energy Efficiency, requiring an investment in the new Smart grid and Smart Energy Management Structure. The goal is to create a smart grid that will change the way power is deployed for sustainable energy around the world. It will transform the way we use Energy.

Over 1 trillion KWh of energy are wasted annually through inefficient inverters and AC/DC adaptors. This is set to rise as the number of low power DC devices increase exponentially, e.g. the number of connected devices is expected to rise from 6bn to 50bn by 2020, as we use more computers, mobile devices and gadgets. Furthermore, lighting is going through a revolution, with new availability of efficient DC LED solutions.

To power this through AC/DC adaptors is both wasteful and annoying, particularly as adaptors are bulky, mains sockets are in the wrong place or in short supply, and it prevents plugging them in directly to local renewable energy supplies, such as PV, Batteries, CHP and Fuel cells, which are all sources of DC.

The current model is unsustainable, and that is why many groups have been working for several years to rethink the axiom of power and electricity consumption to develop Smart DC technology that works at variable voltages over a Smart DC Network, providing efficient power to household lighting, Smart Hubs, Smart DC sockets for computers, and smart power integration.

It is estimated that this could help reduce electricity bills by up to a third, and significantly reduce grid peak demand through powering devices efficiently from off-grid or off-peak resources, and through smart control and advice.

Systems should also be designed to ensure – ‘No home is left behind’, in adopting low cost renewable energy solutions, whether they are houses or flats in urban spaces. We could also develop solutions for hotels, student accommodation and small offices. Need to develop a range of Home Energy solutions that provide smart energy monitoring, easy to install micro-generation and storage, and provide efficient power via smart DC Hubs, DC micro-nets which can re-use household wiring to power home lighting or provide smart DC sockets for appliances.

Vision is to change the way we produce and consume electricity in homes. Specifically through focusing on the “Long-tail” of energy consumption – using advanced monitoring and control to reduce high load appliance use, and through using smart DC micro-nets to reduce the inefficiencies of trillions of DC/low power lighting and electronic devices being powered from the grid via AC/DC adaptors.

Smarter buildings for Smart Grid Integration: DC Micro-grids Can Help In Buildings. Micro-grids are for buildings not just ‘Smart’ grids. New DC Power Standards Are also helping in proliferation of DC as Industry standards are key. There are new standards for generating and distributing DC power in buildings.

Hybrid AC/DC Buildings Are the 1st Step: We can begin to leverage Hybrid Power for Building Interiors Now! Low Voltage DC Is Key: LVDC technology can help make it happen as it offers Flexibility, Energy Savings and Sustainability/Reliability.

Energy Efficient Designs: Ohm’s Law makes the difference. Energy Conversions impact Energy Efficiency of any Product, Appliance or System. With DC, Efficiency is >10-15% higher with solar, wind & on-site storage. For example, AC & solar sources can be connected to the same DC Loads. Hence, allowing maximized return on investments in alternative energy.

Data Centers Next: All the Data Centers today are focused on energy efficiency. Data Centers are Huge energy user in buildings; Not just Google or Facebook, 99% are “small” (server rooms, closets, etc…2.5 million total) that contain majority of all servers (57%)@from 2-32 servers per location. These Sites have very less internal expertise in power/space/heat management. In fact at least 6 billion KW hours could be saved each year with a 10% improvement in data center energy efficiency.

 “DC power could fundamentally change the way power is distributed in commercial and even residential buildings…”

In fact the First ever, International Conference on LVDC is being organised in India in October 2015 by BIS & IEC with the theme: LVDC – Redefining Electricity.

A few Challenges:

In INDIA, in the enthusiasm of rolling out one of the most Advanced & Robust Electricity Infrastructures to ensure the “ENERGY SECURITY”, numerous ambitious and grand initiatives have been undertaken; and more initiatives and Pilot Projects are being envisaged in the coming months and years…

A whole lot of Medium Scale & Grid Scale Renewable Energy Generation Projects are being Deployed  & Commissioned nationwide; but there is no co-ordination or intervention with such initiatives to enable these Generation Plants to seamlessly Integrate into the Nation-wide Smart Grid Infrastructure.

Solar Energy & Wind Energy is going to play a major role in the Smart Grid Deployments. Both these industries & stakeholders need to understand the expectations on various aspects of the Smart Grid Standards, Architecture, Communication Interfaces & protocols for smooth Renewable Integration.

The relevance of Communication Architecture, Protocols & Interfaces in Renewable Integration cannot be ignored anymore. The “NET METER” must also follow the standards & protocols being used by the Electricity Distribution Utilities, as well as by the Consumers for their Home or Building Energy Management System to be able to give relevant data to each stakeholder of the Electricity Eco-System. In today’s scenario of Smart homes, Smart Buildings and Smart Grid, an Electricity Meter is needed to give relevant Data to all the Three Stakeholders viz: the Utility, the Building Management System and the Home Automation cum Energy Management System; and if the Installed Meter/Net Meter can not cater to this need, Individual Meters shall need to be installed for the each stakeholder of the Energy Management Eco-system.

With the proliferation of Distributed Energy Systems around the world, and some of these energy sources getting connected to the distribution network, the topic of ‘metering’ the energy exchange between the Grid and Consumer is assuming new proportions. Many regulators and distribution companies have issued policies on metering requirements of this exchange. India too has issued many guidelines on the subject, but they vary from state to state. Further, they do not address most of the concerns of the consumers, and even of the unified electricity infrastructure.

Grid Integration of Renewable Energy: Issues at a Glance:

The integration of large quantities of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power will require changes in how our transmission system operates. The issues that need serious considerations are: Variability of renewable energy sources; High-penetration variable generation; Bidirectional Power Flow in Distribution Networks; Localized Voltage Stability Problem; Frequency response; Solar and wind forecasting; Grid Congestion, Weak Grids; System balancing; Energy storage; Transmission; Energy management systems; Cost, Reliability & Efficiency of Grid Interface Integration costs; Emissions.

 Challenges in Renewable Integration

Rooftop Solar Inverters 1KW – 5KW: Off-Line or Grid Interactive? What parameters to measure? What communication Protocols? Grid Synchronization! Islanding Control: with Consumer or with Utility? Does it really need a separate “NET METER”? Dynamic Profile Control!

Net Metering: Tariff Disparity, Subsidy & Billing Computation; Defining Metering Points in the Network; Different Nature of Energy: AC & DC; Conversion Losses Computation; Energy Source Signature Tracking: Panel or Battery; Generation & Consumption Profiling; Lack of Policy & Regulatory Clarity; Lack of harmonization in Communication Standards and Data Interfaces.

In case of “Grid-Interactive” Solar PV Systems, where anybody can Install the System and connect to the Grid for feeding the partial/surplus power generated by the System, there are namely Two major issues that need a very diligent study, analysis and solution: “NET METERING” & “GRID SYNCHRONIZATION”.

“Net Metering”: is it merely the “IMPORT-EXPORT” Metering, as the name suggests? Absolutely NO. Net Metering really encompasses a lot more than merely measuring the energy imported from the GRID & exported to the GRID. When we contemplate the various aspects of ‘Renewable Integration’ in the true sense, the Simple Box being touted as NET METER transcends to a wholly different level. It is expected to measure, compute & generate a lot more data to derive the optimum benefit from the renewable energy generation system installed. The prevalent definition of Net Metering could still be argued as valid from the point of view of the Utility, but from consumers’ point of view, it really falls short of expectations/needs. And, if a meter giving merely import – export data is installed under the name of “NET METER” then the consumers shall have to install multiple meters to give them the true picture of Renewable Integration and its benefits from the consumers’ perspective.

The major driver of the consumers in installing Solar RE Systems is to bring their respective monthly Electricity Bill down, Subsidy by the Government works as a sweetener; and to top it all, if they get paid by the utility for the surplus electricity generated and fed to the Grid…  it really makes a very good business case for the Electricity Consumers to be part of this Eco-system.

Now, let us understand what kind of Data do consumers need from such systems to manage the system most efficiently. It should give them comprehensive picture on the Electrical Energy Generated by the system every day, the exact share of electricity consumed from the Grid as well as Solar System, and, last but not the least, the energy exported to the Grid. Since, you can not Manage what you can not Measure; it becomes imperative for consumer to measure all these different generation & consumption figures to take a well calculated decision as to how much energy to use from the solar and how much & during which Time Slots to use energy from the grid; whether to export any energy at any particular day or time to the grid or rather store it in the Batteries for own consumption at the appropriate time…

Thus, unless the “NET METER” can help the Consumers devise their respective ‘Energy Management Strategy’ and also enable them to dynamically alter it “on the Fly”; it would be absolutely under-utilized; and it is highly probable that in the absence of any clarity of the benefits of Installing the Solar PV Systems, the consumers get rather disillusioned with such Ideas and Schemes of the Government and the whole Initiative backfires or falls flat with all investments, resources & subsidies gone waste.

“Grid Synchronization” also has implications of its own, which if not addressed immediately may also bring this Initiative to a grinding Halt.

INVERTERS in India are mainly manufactured in MSME (Micro Small & Medium Enterprise) segment, and lion’s share of this is in the un-organized sector. This has a severe implication on the High End Features, Quality & Reliability of the Inverters manufactured by this segment. Consumers may buy inverters from such vendors, which may not be capable synchronizing with the grid; and hence defeating the very purpose of the Government’s such initiatives.

It is MOST IMPERATIVE that complete Specifications and Compliance Criteria for Grid Synchronization of the Inverters be defined explicitly. The STANDARD for “GRID SYNCHRONIZATION” be NOTIFIED, Test Laboratories be equipped for conducting such Tests and complete Eco-System to make this a Success be mobilized before allowing the Consumers to go for the Grid – Interactive Solar PV Systems. Even, a mass awareness campaign to be driven on the Compliance’s Imperativeness and Certified Manufacturers listing to enable the consumers not falling prey to the spurious products.

It is imperative to explore these crucial aspects of our new Electricity Infrastructure; the challenges, the current Practices & Technologies, Architectures, Interfaces & Protocols; and identify the way forward for Smooth Renewable Integration, as well as Unified & Secure Communication Architecture to provide a Scalable, Versatile & Robust Communication Backbone for the Next generation Electricity Infrastructure.

DID YOU KNOW?

• There is a renewable-energy resource that is perfectly clean, remarkably cheap, surprisingly abundant and immediately available.
• It has potential to reduce the carbon emissions that threaten our planet, our dependency on oil imports that threaten our economy, and energy costs that threaten our wallets.
• It does not pollute, does not depend on weather, does not inflate prices and does not take a decade to build.

This miracle resource is better known across the world by the distinctively boring name of “Energy Efficiency”. It turns out that it is much less expensive, less destructive and less time-intensive to reduce demand through efficiency than to increase supply through new drilling or new power plants.

Energy Efficiency is appropriately considered today as the 5^th Fuel to serve our increasing energy requirement.

Energy efficiency has today become the largest energy source. It is bigger than OIL, and much bigger than WIND, SOLAR, HYDROELECTRIC POWER & BIO-FUELS combined.

The utilization of this “5^th Fuel” is green, possible and profitable.

As they say, a penny saved is penny earned, in power context, it is well know fact that a unit (of electricity i.e. KWh) saved is equivalent to 2.5 to 3 units generated.

“DO NOT Estimate when you can calculate”

“DO NOT Calculate when you can Measure”

But,  …..YOU CAN’T MANAGE …WHAT YOU CAN’T MEASURE.

And, that is why, a new Breed of SMART METERS, Smart Appliances, Smart Sensors & Smart Interfacing & Communication Devices are evolving to enable utilities, organizations & consumers to Measure, Monitor, Audit & Control their Energy Consumption Patterns n devise their respective Energy Conservation/ Efficiency Strategies.

At the heart of the worldwide rollout of Smart Meters and the construction of a Smart Grid Network Infrastructure, lies the goal of Energy Efficiency from the Generation, Transmission and Distribution to the End Consumer of the Electricity.

Governments worldwide are mandating improved Energy Efficiency, requiring an investment in the new Smart grid and Smart Energy Management Structure. The goal is to create a smart grid that will change the way power is deployed for sustainable energy around the world.

The Key Economic & Social Driver for “SMART GRID” Initiatives Globally is nothing but “Energy Efficiency”. “Smart Grid Technology” is Integration of Communication, IT and Power Technologies. Smart Grids can also send signals to both power plants and end-users like homes or office buildings, constantly telling them how much energy they are consuming. The power plant can then either cut down the amount of power it generates or the end user can cut down its consumption accordingly.

It will transform the way we use Energy.

 You can monitor your Air Conditioners, Lights, Televisions and other Appliances in real time through smart grid technology. Just by optimizing the uses, smart meters can help reduce power consumption by more than 15 percent. This is very important for the energy-deficient countries like India. Nearly one-third Indians have no access to power. Frequent power cut is a regular phenomenon even in the metros like New Delhi and Mumbai. At peak hours, power deficit rises to nearly 20 percent in major parts of the country. This highlights the need to use innovative measures to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

Of the total Electricity consumption globally, 19% share is for Lighting, amounting to 2650 TWh, out of which 31% is consumed in homes & balance 69% is consumed in commercial & industrial applications.

1.4 Billion people still have no electricity globally. They use 77 Billion Liters of Kerosene only for lighting annually; causing 190 million Tons of CO2 emitted which would be equivalent to emission from 50 million cars.

Imagine, if the effort to conserve the energy consumption result in 20% aggregate saving; it would mean that we shall be able to light up the lives of those 1.4 Billion people, and, may not need to add any generation capacity for next few years.

On the cost of smart meters & other such devices, the new technology is initially bound to cost more, as it is not yet mass-produced. Cost will, of course, be higher, but the savings in electricity bill will more than compensate it. The governments are likely to incentivise the use of Smart Meters at homes, enabling users to monitor their power consumptions in real time and save on electricity bills by over 15 percent. 


Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency:

As per recent regulations, the costs towards setting up demand side management programmes can be passed on to consumers through tariffs. With the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency under the National Action Plan for Climate Change also laying emphasis on DSM, quite a many utilities are exploring the use of energy-efficient devices and strategies for managing demand and flattening the load curve.

Energy Efficiency in Commercial & Industrial Segments:

Different segments of Industry & Business are trying to evolve different Strategies to reduce the Power Consumption with their own set of Business Drivers & Technology Drivers. Energy Cost is one of major component of OPEX for most of businesses & industries that does not directly contribute to the growth or profit.

In a typical organization, there are several departments and areas each having its own consumption pattern. It is important to understand these patterns and address them properly to gain energy efficiency. The key to a successful energy efficiency program lies in the control you have over your energy consumption.

The 1^st Step:

If you want to

• Introduce an energy saving program
• Reduce utility costs & carbon footprint
• Monitor effectiveness of existing campaign

Then you will need accurate data to

• Understand consumption patterns
• Identify and focus on energy wastage
• Monitor the effectiveness of your actions

Online Energy Monitoring:

Identifying the key energy consumption and wastage areas of your organization is your first step towards achieving energy efficiency.

You need new n comprehensive Online Energy Monitoring Solutions for accurate real-time monitoring, recording and reporting of energy and utilities usage.

A solution, that lets you create information base for overall energy conservation program, to improve facilities operation and maintenance practices and above all optimize Energy Costs.

A system that enables you to access a range of real-time and historical data including voltage, current per phase, frequency, power factor, power and energy. With this data you can gain an accurate understanding of your usage patterns. A solution, which also provides, you with the ability to produce graphical trend reports. Any irregularities in usage patterns could be highlighted in the graphs for further investigation.

Advantages of Online Energy Monitoring:

• Monitoring & capturing of Dynamic Load Patterns
• Immediate data during Adds, Moves & changes
• Comparative Consumption Analysis across various timelines like hour, day, week etc.
• Maximum Control over accountability
• Factual Data Analysis for Informed Decisions
• Basis for adoption of Appropriate Control Strategy

Some vital catalysts enabling the Society to take full advantage of the“5^th Fuel”: ENERGY EFFICIENCY include the New Generation of Smart Meters, Communication &Interfacing Devices like:

• Smart Plugs
• Din Rail & Penal Mount Smart Meters
• Home Area Networks
• Home Energy Gateways
• Data Concentrators
• Grid Routers
• Smart Sensors
• Smart Breakers….

…enabled by Communication Technologies like ZigBee, PLCC, MODBUS, ETHERNET GPRS/3G etc. and Comprehensive Suites of Energy Monitoring, Audit & Management Softwares.

Countries across the globe are adapting “Continuous Energy Monitoring” or “Sub-Metering”, as a part of the green initiative. Studies have shown that through online monitoring and control, energy consumption in organizations may be reduced by up to 20%.

Some of the major energy guzzler industry segments have already started very strong initiatives to curtail their consumption by implementing green initiatives. Three sectors, who are leading this drive being: “TELECOM”, “IT” & “Hospitality” Industry.

Another approach that can reduce your carbon footprint as well as your electricity bills is adoption of new breed of highly energy efficient equipment and appliances, enabled by the latest technological developments in their respective fields. Today,

It is high time; we put in perspective, the importance of “ENERGY EFFICIENCY” being touted as the 5^th Fuel  & “the green fuel” today.

We need to appreciate & accept the changing role of Energy Meters & Metering in context of Smart Grid, AMI, Energy Crisis (because of Depleting Conventional Natural Resources) and Green Initiatives of the Society & different segments of Industry & Business.

 And, how different new types of Smart Meters, Smart Metering Solutions, and Smart Energy Auditing/Monitoring Softwares & Solutions backed by Innovative Integration of communication technologies and supporting Smart Devices like Smart Sensors, Smart Appliances  & Smart Breakers etc. are helping evolve a seamless and ubiquitous eco system to monitor, audit/manage and hence control Energy Consumption of all categories of Electricity Consumers.

Last but not the least, if we want India to remain a key participant in global “energy efficiency” movement and a hot destination for buying the carbon credits, then, Indian “Energy Industry” has to be prepared to meet the new environmental and social impositions and yet offer quality and a competitive price. Our Energy Industry has to believe in & ENSURE the Principle of Sustainable Development, which makes us responsible and accountable to “Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”. Environment and Social considerations have influenced business environment of the Global Industrial Sector, bringing to fore some new Regulations & Compliances to be practiced by the members of all the ECO-SYSTEMS, including but not limited to:

• Restriction on Hazardous Substances (“The RoHS Regulations”)
• Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (“The WEEE Regulations”)
• Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation & Control) Rule (ODS rule), 2000 –Montreal Protocol

To meet such Challenges, compliances and obligations, we have to merely add a touch of GREEN to our outlook to each aspect of the Energy Efficiency from the Generation, Transmission and Distribution to the End Consumer of the Electricity Eco-System. We need to explore ways to make our DESIGNS, SYSTEMS, and PRODUCTS & PROCESSES Eco-Friendly and Carbon-Neutral to make our WORLD a little more GREEN.

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