In our “What is…?” series, we explain to you today what energy management is. What are the prerequisites and benefits, how does it work and how can we support your company? You can find the answers here.
We live in a time in which the topic of our own energy consumption is becoming increasingly relevant. Also, an efficient and well thought-out consumption of energy, whether electricity, gas or water, not only saves costs, but also promotes climate protection. To achieve these goals, an energy management system can be introduced in companies. The term energy management system is defined in the ISO 50001 standard. Companies that are certified according to this standard thus have a sign that they use their energy economically and ecologically.
What is an energy management system?
An energy management system can be many things. However, one important component must never be missing: You have to keep an eye on your own energy consumption in the company as continuously as possible. Consequently, you must be able to detect energy inefficiencies. We will illustrate this with a simple example.
A manufacturing company installs electricity meters in various halls and at power-consuming plants. The measurements are collected continuously and automatically and visualized in a software. The company’s energy manager can now use different displays (line, bar, pie charts) to assess what percentage of electricity consumption (per day, month, year, …) falls into which areas of the company. Power-intensive times, such as in the afternoon, can be quickly identified. Inefficiencies can often be identified purely on the basis of the visualization: Why is machine X still running even though it is no longer producing? Why is energy consumption so high during the night even though no one is in the office? If these inefficiencies can be clearly identified and neutralized, you are already one step closer to your goal.
But pure visualization is not the only component of an energy management system. Alarm functions in the event of excessive consumption, the creation of cyclical reports on energy consumption, the tracking of measures to increase energy efficiency, the identification of flexibilities to shift consumption, the forecasting of energy consumption based on assumptions… These are just a few examples of the possibilities that such an energy management system can provide. The following applies: The more detailed the measurements and analyses, the higher the chances of saving costs and using energy in a climate-friendly way – day after day.
The advantages of an energy management system
The benefits of such an energy management system are manifold. By increasing energy efficiency, companies can reduce their operating costs and improve their competitiveness. At the same time, they make an important contribution to environmental protection by reducing CO2 emissions and shrinking their ecological footprint. Efficient energy management also strengthens the company’s image and credibility, as customers and investors pay increased attention to sustainability aspects.
What we can do for you
We will be happy to advise you on the subject of energy management and find a suitable solution for your company. In addition to carrying out potential analyses (Is a PV system worthwhile?, If so, which one?, What about a storage system?, …), we will accompany you in setting up a sensible energy management system – right up to certification. Feel free to ask us for a non-binding quote! Your contact person is Marvin Albrecht.
Your Es-geht! Team