What is an energy management system?

What is energy management, why changing the entire system is better than changing individual elements, and how an already efficient enterprise can start saving additional energy with an efficient energy management system? In this article, you will find answers to all these questions.

The purpose of the energy management system

The active development of industry and the gradual reduction of non-renewable natural resources, and, as a result, their high cost, have led to the fact that energy efficiency in the world has long been mandatory for every company that wants to work in a modern way and make a profit. Therefore, implementing the standard of energy management systems in industry is important today. Its main goal is to organize the implementation of procedures for sustainable and efficient energy use in industry. The energy management system is a part of the overall management system of the enterprise, which includes the organizational structure, management functions, duties and responsibilities, procedures, processes, and resources for the formation, implementation, and achievement of energy conservation policy goals. In addition, the energy management system of an agricultural enterprise is a complex of organizational, technical means, and software-methodological support, which together allows managing the production process in such a way that only the minimum necessary amount of fuel and energy resources is consumed for the production of a certain amount of products or services. Among the tasks that are solved in the energy management system, it is appropriate to include the following:

• developing a policy for more efficient use of energy;
• determination of specific energy use goals of the enterprise;
• identifying the priority of energy use goals, their order, and the sequence of solutions;
• formation of the enterprise’s energy strategy;
• determination of the necessary resources and sources of their provision for the implementation of the energy strategy;
• establishing control over the performance of assigned tasks.

Forming an energy management system following the ISO 50001 standard begins with defining an appropriate energy policy. However, most practitioners note the need to create favorable conditions at various levels, from local self-government bodies to the local community, for the development and implementation of the system since the successful implementation of any program and strategy is possible only with the support of a wide range of participants.

Types of energy management system

There are several types of energy management systems, each with its own unique features and benefits. Some of the most common types of energy management systems include:

1. Building energy management systems (BEMS): These systems are specifically designed to optimize the energy usage of commercial and industrial buildings. They typically include a range of sensors, meters, and controls that enable building managers to monitor and control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting systems.
2. Industrial energy management systems (IEMS): These systems are used to optimize energy usage in industrial processes, such as manufacturing, mining, and oil and gas extraction. They typically include sensors, meters, and controls that enable operators to monitor energy usage and optimize processes to reduce energy consumption.
3. Home energy management systems (HEMS): These systems are designed to help homeowners manage and optimize their energy usage. They typically include smart meters, energy monitoring software, and controls that enable users to monitor and control heating, cooling, lighting, and other household appliances.
4. Demand response management systems (DRMS): These systems are used by utilities to manage energy demand during periods of peak usage. They typically include software and controls that enable utilities to communicate with customers and adjust energy usage in real-time.
5. Enterprise energy management systems (EEMS): These systems are designed to help organizations manage energy usage across multiple sites or facilities. They typically include software and controls that enable managers to monitor energy consumption and optimize energy usage across the enterprise.

Energy management system benefits

Energy management provides benefits on many levels: in addition to saving money due to optimization of consumption, the systems also ensure higher reliability of infrastructure and industrial enterprises by monitoring electrical networks and power quality. At the same time, systematic power monitoring increases awareness of energy consumption. When integrated into open cloud systems, such as MindSphere Internet of Things, the optimization increases even more. The energy management system provides a reliable basis for regular energy audits and an operational energy management system following the ISO 50001 and ISO 50003 standards for implementing, maintaining, and improving energy management systems. The effect of implementing the energy-saving mechanism as a constantly operating system at the enterprise will, of course, be greater than implementing individual organizational or technological measures. However, this will be done under the condition that energy conservation becomes part of the overall management system of the enterprise, which regulates the processes of generation, transmission, and consumption of energy. The objectivity of making management decisions and adjusting the energy strategy depends on the effectiveness of the energy-saving mechanism.