Schnieder Electric combines smart power and edge IoT in buildings
EcoStruxure Power developed by the French industrial giant uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve power availability and safety by continually monitoring the entire network and improving protection against shock, fire and explosion.
“The way we produce and consume energy has profoundly changed. This shift is driving a new era of power distribution for buildings of all sizes and in all industries,” said Mohamed Shishani, EcoStruxure Power deployment leader, Schneider Electric. “With EcoStruxure Power, buildings can unlock new levels of efficiency, performance and sustainability to better compete in the digital world.”
EcoStruxure Power has three levels, from the connected devices such as circuit breakers, sensors and meters to control at the network edge to enable real-time control of operations to maximize system reliability. For example, the EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert allows tracking of real-time power conditions to help improve efficiency and reliability while EcoStruxure Power SCADA Operation provides fast data-acquisition monitoring while improving the power availability of electrical distribution networks.
At the third level are apps, analytics and services that allow customers to make informed and timely decisions to ensure reliability, reduce costs and boost efficiency. For example, EcoStruxure Asset Advisor services deliver predictive analytics to help ensure a company’s critical operations are operating safely and securely.
“With EcoStruxure Power, contractors, specifiers and engineers gain the advantage of trusted Schneider Electric products that enable enhanced connectivity, real-time operations and smart analytics, while end customers, including critical facility managers and business owners gain peace of mind and financial assurance,” said Shishani.
Small and medium buildings have unique power distribution needs since they often operate with limited staff and resources on site so EcoStruxure Power provides electrical equipment that monitors power quality and asset status, as well as simple cloud-based tools that automate maintenance operations and quickly apply corrective action in case of an outage.