4.3.2 Changes in Business Energy
Consumption in the Age
of Data Technology
As information technology evolves, the Internet
changes how people live, work and think, profoundly. In this process, the role of data evolves
from simple recording and analysis to advanced
applications. It gradually becomes the second
language of humankind, driving civilisation to
evolve from the era of information technology to
the age of data technology (cloud computing,
IoT, big data and mobile Internet). The effects of
data technology on businesses’ energy consumption include intelligent energy management,
IT-based energy efficiency and improvement of
the entire energy use value chain.
Data technology enables intelligent energy
management in business. The Internet, big data
and cloud computing allow companies to set
energy efficiency benchmarks for their operations
and equipment, Businesses can analyse and
compare their energy use data, automatically
evaluate their energy efficiency and generate
energy consumption reports. Functionalities like
real-time monitoring, timely adjustment of
parameters and automatic alarms signalling faults
or excessive energy use can be set up along the
value chain, from procurement to consumption,
making smart energy management possible.
Through its online energy consumption monitoring system, CNPC Offshore Engineering
Company Limited (CPOE) has practical experience of the operation and benefits of smart energy
management. Li Peng, head of CPOE, said, “With
the online energy consumption monitoring system, we can understand our energy use level in
real time, effectively controlling our total energy
consumption and achieving cost reductions. It
also helps us take economic and social benefits
into consideration when making decisions.”
The age of data technology makes IT-based
energy efficiency possible. Intelligent automation
systems enable businesses to control their energy
use and flexibility by using the right type of
energy at the right time at a given site. For
instance, in buildings, the central air conditioning
system accounts for more than half of total
building energy consumption. As buildings
become bigger and standards improve, the number of mechanical and electrical devices increases
sharply. This equipment is deployed throughout
the building and on all floors. A decentralised
management system, requiring local monitoring
and operation on each floor, would require a lot of
human operators. If modern computer technology
and network systems are used to create a centralised energy management system to continuously monitor all mechanical and electrical
equipment, energy consumption and staffing can
be reduced by about 25% and 50% respectively.
The age of data technology can improve the
entire value chain of an industry. By integrating
information technologies like smart detection of
operational problems, advanced data display
graphics, wireless communications and network
control, IT can optimise resource allocation and
make energy scheduling between businesses
possible. In the power industry, for example, IT
can: (i) optimise combustion to reduce fuel
consumption in conventional power plants;
(ii) improve scheduling efficiency through automated dispatch in power transmission; (iii) ensure grid reliability and power quality by
enabling life cycle management of power
metering devices in distribution networks; and
(iv) prevent power shortages by adopting
time-of-use (TOU) tariffs based on power
demand patterns in retail.
4.3.3 IT Optimises Business Energy
Demand
The Energy Internet is a network of equal
exchange between distributors and consumers
that enables power to flow in two or multiple
directions between participants. It uses advanced
power electronics, IT and smart management to
integrate distributed energy resources, energy
storage facilities and loads of various types into a
single system. The Energy Internet can effectively address the geographical mismatch
between energy production and consumption in
China, reduce renewable energy curtailment, and
improve businesses’ energy use.
The Energy Internet can improve the efficiency
of new power generation hugely. When operating
separately, the output from distributed energy
264
Y. Jianlong and M. Haigh
Consumption in the Age
of Data Technology
As information technology evolves, the Internet
changes how people live, work and think, profoundly. In this process, the role of data evolves
from simple recording and analysis to advanced
applications. It gradually becomes the second
language of humankind, driving civilisation to
evolve from the era of information technology to
the age of data technology (cloud computing,
IoT, big data and mobile Internet). The effects of
data technology on businesses’ energy consumption include intelligent energy management,
IT-based energy efficiency and improvement of
the entire energy use value chain.
Data technology enables intelligent energy
management in business. The Internet, big data
and cloud computing allow companies to set
energy efficiency benchmarks for their operations
and equipment, Businesses can analyse and
compare their energy use data, automatically
evaluate their energy efficiency and generate
energy consumption reports. Functionalities like
real-time monitoring, timely adjustment of
parameters and automatic alarms signalling faults
or excessive energy use can be set up along the
value chain, from procurement to consumption,
making smart energy management possible.
Through its online energy consumption monitoring system, CNPC Offshore Engineering
Company Limited (CPOE) has practical experience of the operation and benefits of smart energy
management. Li Peng, head of CPOE, said, “With
the online energy consumption monitoring system, we can understand our energy use level in
real time, effectively controlling our total energy
consumption and achieving cost reductions. It
also helps us take economic and social benefits
into consideration when making decisions.”
The age of data technology makes IT-based
energy efficiency possible. Intelligent automation
systems enable businesses to control their energy
use and flexibility by using the right type of
energy at the right time at a given site. For
instance, in buildings, the central air conditioning
system accounts for more than half of total
building energy consumption. As buildings
become bigger and standards improve, the number of mechanical and electrical devices increases
sharply. This equipment is deployed throughout
the building and on all floors. A decentralised
management system, requiring local monitoring
and operation on each floor, would require a lot of
human operators. If modern computer technology
and network systems are used to create a centralised energy management system to continuously monitor all mechanical and electrical
equipment, energy consumption and staffing can
be reduced by about 25% and 50% respectively.
The age of data technology can improve the
entire value chain of an industry. By integrating
information technologies like smart detection of
operational problems, advanced data display
graphics, wireless communications and network
control, IT can optimise resource allocation and
make energy scheduling between businesses
possible. In the power industry, for example, IT
can: (i) optimise combustion to reduce fuel
consumption in conventional power plants;
(ii) improve scheduling efficiency through automated dispatch in power transmission; (iii) ensure grid reliability and power quality by
enabling life cycle management of power
metering devices in distribution networks; and
(iv) prevent power shortages by adopting
time-of-use (TOU) tariffs based on power
demand patterns in retail.
4.3.3 IT Optimises Business Energy
Demand
The Energy Internet is a network of equal
exchange between distributors and consumers
that enables power to flow in two or multiple
directions between participants. It uses advanced
power electronics, IT and smart management to
integrate distributed energy resources, energy
storage facilities and loads of various types into a
single system. The Energy Internet can effectively address the geographical mismatch
between energy production and consumption in
China, reduce renewable energy curtailment, and
improve businesses’ energy use.
The Energy Internet can improve the efficiency
of new power generation hugely. When operating
separately, the output from distributed energy
264
Y. Jianlong and M. Haigh