Categoria: Energia

Author: Schneider Electric

This audio was created using Microsoft Azure Speech Services

As global industries continue efforts to electrify operations, partners in all roles are being challenged to perform meticulous electrical asset management for their projects to help:

• Improve operational efficiency and reduce downtime for customers
• Enhance safety by minimizing accidents and disruptions
• Mitigate costs for unexpected product recalls
• Streamline maintenance and compliance procedures

EcoStruxure Power Commission software simplifies electrical asset management, even for legacy equipment, by enabling robust traceability and QR code generation for immediate access to documents and spare parts. This puts essential, up-to-date information – from manufacturing through installation to operation and maintenance – at every partner’s fingertips to make decision-making more efficient and effective. 

Watch our video to learn the importance of electrical asset traceability and discover how our software can help you better manage and monitor your customers’ growing electrical infrastructures. Transform your and your customers’ asset management approach.

Tags: Asset traceability, EcoStruxure Power Commission, electrical asset management, Electrical equipment traceability, Equipment Traceability, video

Author: Schneider Electric

This audio was created using Microsoft Azure Speech Services

There’s no denying the potential of artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools to transform energy. They hold immense promise for optimizing supply and demand, accelerating the shift to lower-carbon energy systems. However, for many companies grappling with understanding AI’s practical value, widespread adoption remains a hurdle. While I see industrial AI as an accelerator, remember, you don’t need an all-or-nothing approach. Start with the most relevant use cases for your business. 

As Schneider’s Chief AI Officer, Philippe Rambach, emphasizes, “Successful AI execution requires understanding its true capabilities beyond flashy demos, and its impact on your business.” This business-centric view empowers leaders to answer the crucial question: “To AI or not to AI?” 

Here’s how digitalization and industrial AI can deliver near-term benefits.

1. Reduced Carbon Emissions: AI can optimize energy-intensive processes in factories, buildings, and even water treatment plants. For example, Gradska Toplana, a district heating utility in Karlovac, Croatia, serving over 8,000 citizens uses Schneider Electric’s District Energy system with AI Load Forecasting to predict heating needs, optimize energy use, decrease both operational and maintenance costs, and cut emissions. 

2. Optimized Energy Demand: AI can manage microgrids and electric vehicle charging stations, ensuring efficient energy use, and avoiding peak demand times. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ Microgrid Advisor software optimizes energy supply and demand by analyzing data from various sources, helping customers like Citycon shopping center, in Lippulaiva, Finland approach net zero. Here we used a machine learning algorithm that constantly analyzes data from energy generators, EV charging stations, batteries, backup generators, HVAC systems, lighting systems, UPS, combined heat and power (CHP), and utility metering to dynamically optimize energy supply and demand. 

3. Enhanced Operational Efficiency: AI is revolutionizing operational efficiency. By leveraging AI’s analytical power, companies can optimize processes, minimize downtime, and achieve significant performance improvements. Spanish energy giant Acciona exemplifies the transformative power of AI in boosting operational efficiency. Together with AVEVA, Acciona implemented the PI System, a data management platform that integrates seamlessly with AI applications resulting in a remarkable 20% increase in operational efficiency. They also achieved a 4.6% reduction in energy consumption for a specific high-pressure pump and prevented three full factory outages by predicting issues in advance. 

Industrial AI: A Business-Centric Perspective 

Regardless of the use case, data quality, trust, cybersecurity, and digital risk are paramount for any AI integration.  

Data quality and trust  

Every industrial AI model, whether machine learning or generative, relies on the data it’s trained on. OpenAI’s GPT, for instance, was trained on vast internet data, which can be biased and inaccurate. This is why early large language models (LLMs) might not be ideal for highly regulated industries like energy.  

So, how do we address this trust issue? By keeping humans in the loop. Data scientists and domain experts can validate and refine models using high-quality data, ensuring greater accuracy. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday processes, ensuring data quality and addressing potential biases in training data is crucial. At Schneider, we also leverage AI for data cleansing to remove biases and ensure responsible AI deployment.  

Cybersecurity and digital risk 

Cybersecurity and digital risk are top concerns for many executives. As the CEO of a company driving energy transformation through digitization and AI, I’m often asked, “How fast is AI coming?” and “What are the risks?”  

The truth is, AI is already here. AI conceptually has been around for nearly 70 years. Schneider Electric has been working with AI models for over 40 years, and we established a dedicated AI organization a year before OpenAI GPT emerged. We also appointed a Chief AI Officer to ensure AI strategy has a prominent role. 

If your company is still formulating an AI strategy, consider partnering with experienced vendors to complement your efforts. Integrating cybersecurity and managing AI risks must be core elements of your business strategy, not afterthoughts. Schneider implements robust security measures and clear data governance to safeguard sensitive customer data used in AI applications. Additionally, an AI risk strategy should anticipate regulations like the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act. In the US, frameworks like NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework can help energy companies responsibly accelerate AI innovation. 

Schneider adopted this same approach to digital risk during the industry-wide digitization wave two decades ago. In today’s age of rapid digitalization, both AI and digital risk ultimately translate to business risk, and they must be managed accordingly. 

The Future of Energy with Industrial AI 

As a long-time software engineer passionate about data, digital twins, and decarbonization, I’m energized by the potential of industrial AI and its impact on the energy industry. We have the technology today to drastically reduce CO2 emissions by 70 percent. Now, we need swift deployment of these technologies on both the supply and demand side (where 55% of the carbon problem resides) 

With concerted effort and supportive policies, we can scale these solutions and empower the energy industry to spearhead the transformation of energy systems. Incremental change is no longer enough. We must leverage AI to revolutionize energy production and consumption, paving the way for a cleaner planet and a sustainable future for all. 

Tags: AI in Buildings, AI in manufacturing, AI in Water Treatment, carbon emissions reduction, Cybersecurity and AI, Data Quality in AI, Decarbonization, Digital Risk Management, digitalization, Electric Vehicle Charging Optimization, energy transition, Microgrid management, operational efficiency, optimized energy demand, predictive maintenance, Sustainability, sustainable energy, Trust in AI

Author: Schneider Electric

This audio was created using Microsoft Azure Speech Services

The IT channel globally, and in the MENA region, continues to evolve at an accelerating pace. This is being driven by technological change, end user and consumer demand, and changing supply chain needs.

However, among the greatest drivers of channel change is the combination of pressures from budget, talent, and the need for sustainability. Customers and channel partners are looking for more complete offerings from the businesses they work with, to help them cope with these combined challenges.

Strategic partners

One of the key changes that is transforming the channel is that partners are no longer looked upon as merely hardware suppliers. The trend towards being a technical and strategic partner has been seen for some time, but now it is manifesting in an ever more complete offering.

Partners are being asked for, and are offering, hardware, software, services, solutions and now also smart devices. From smart UPS to handhelds for accessing the likes of advanced data center infrastructure management (DCIM), users are demanding more from partners and providers to make procurement, deployment, and management easier, more secure, and more compliant. This has been characterized as customer demand for outcomes, not technology.

Efficiency demand

Amid this more complete offering from partners and service providers, end users are demanding that the entire offering of technology stack and wrap-around services, perform to the highest efficiency standards.

This is partly due to the need for cost control, as energy prices have remained stubbornly high, but also as a means of contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the focus on common reporting frameworks and science-based metrics, this efficiency drive is seen as a major contributor to overall sustainability efforts.

We have made major strides in providing extensive information on our equipment, such as Product Environmental Profiles, and equipment efficiency calculators, to allow channel partners to guide customers in choosing the most efficient solutions.

Similarly, the Green Premium program provides important insights for partners on cleaner, greener products, enabling them to have more informed, in-depth sustainability conversations with their customers. There are also programs to allow partners to guide customers in better equipment lifecycle management, applying circular economy principles.

Cyber and physical security

As data gathering and analytics have developed rapidly, with DCIM systems providing ever greater transparency and orchestration for infrastructure, it is also delivering new opportunities to allow channel partners to improve cyber security for customers.

With the ability to span hybrid environments of core, on-premises deployments, hybrid, multi-cloud, and edge computing deployments, the data reach of the latest generation of DCIM, such as Ecostruxure IT, is being leveraged to provide greater cyber security as well as physical security. From device location to network segmentation, visibility and data are being used to support approaches to whole organization initiatives, such as the Zero Trust Model (ZTM).

Visibility and support

The same visibility and reach are also critical in knowing what assets are present, their status, and operational efficiency. This contributes greatly to measuring emissions and enabling Scope 3 evaluations.

As more and more organizations step up their efforts for sustainability and to be responsible citizens within their respective ecosystems and supply chains, they are being called upon for ever greater data and detail.

As more and more players in the channel make the transition from value-added reseller (VAR) to become managed service providers (MSP), it is vital to be able to manage and report on emissions at the same level as other participants. MSPs can take this capability and help customers better understand their own requirements to meet Scope 3 emissions reporting requirements.

Enabling circular progression

The sustainability drive has forced the whole IT channel to consider entire equipment lifecycles, with more consideration for repurposing, re-use, and recycling.

Circular practices are becoming more prevalent and require major changes for full integration into sustainability strategies. From the start, design time considerations are ensuring that better end-of-life outcomes are assured. This is something we have long experience in, as in 2018, our circularity initiatives helped avoid the consumption of 40,000 tons of primary resources and reduced customers’ CO2 emissions by 30 million tons, primarily through the renovation of existing equipment (buildings, industry, infrastructure).

We have further ambitious targets to double the amount of recycled plastics in our products by 2025, and by 2030, 100% of the electricity for our sites will come from renewable sources (up from 30% in 2021), 100% of the waste will be reused and all packaging will be from recycled or certified sources. All of these efforts benefit our channel partners, distributors and customers in achieving their own sustainability ambitions, as well as increasing their own knowledge.

Education and resources

Simply keeping pace with technological change has always been a challenge, but now more than ever with the sheer pace of change. Easily accessible, and easy to consume resources to get people up to speed quickly are vital in any technology ecosystem. At Schneider Electric, we believe in constant upskilling and growth, and so offer innovative training services and educational programs for maintenance teams, partners, and operational personnel.

For a more formal resource, the Schneider Electric University provides on-demand availability of courseware covering career-relevant certifications. Users can tailor course selections or choose targeted learning paths by topic, including data centers, energy and infrastructure, industry, healthcare, and buildings and residential. There are two certification opportunities, through either Data Center Certified Associate (DCCA) or Professional Energy Manager (PEM).

In our experience, lifelong learning pathways, supported by professional resources and programs, allow professionals to develop their personal capabilities, ensuring great value to the business and personal fulfilment that, in turn, fosters greater talent retention.

Transforming the channel

The rapidly changing needs of customers and consumers are driving market change in many regions. When the combined pressures of budgets, talent and sustainability are added to these, the challenge multiplies.

Those at the forefront recognize that more complete offerings, from infrastructure down to devices, with comprehensive service offerings, and the benefit of deep sustainability expertise, will help transform the channel. With partners fully supported in delivering outcomes, not technology, the whole ecosystem can take advantage of change with greater value, deeper cooperation, and shared sustainability goals.

Tags: Edge Computing, enterprise metaverse, IT Channel, metaverse, Sustainability

Author: Schneider Electric

This audio was created using Microsoft Azure Speech Services

Given the pace of change today, there’s no standing still. Over 90% of businesses are investing heavily in digital transformation. Many of these businesses have shifted from reactive service delivery—traditional break/fix service models—to outcome-based and customer-centric models. This shift highlights a more nuanced appreciation of customer priorities and capitalizes on the new technologies Industry 4.0 provides: IoT, big data analytics, automation, and AI. These tools reshape how services can be crafted, aligned with customer goals and expectations, and delivered.

integrating data with advanced digital technologies and AI allows for the development of predictive models and tailored recommendations that improve operational efficiency and drive outcome-based services.

Industry 4.0 and its role in outcome-based services

Industry 4.0 enables us to harness IoT for capturing precise data directly at the customer’s premises. By integrating this data with advanced digital technologies and AI, we can develop predictive models and tailored recommendations that improve operational efficiency and drive outcome-based services. This shift creates opportunities for a more holistic and better-connected company ecosystem. By using these service models that emphasize customer satisfaction, efficiency, and effectiveness, service providers can tailor their offerings to better meet business goals.

The critical role of digitalization and user adoption

As an enabler of outcome-based services, digitalization turns data into actionable insights that help optimize operational performance. This makes it a very powerful growth enabler for business. In fact, digitalization now represents 15.5% of global GDP—over US$13.6 trillion – and it is growing fast.

Digital connectivity makes it possible to benchmark facility operations through real-time data and analytics access. Combined with AI and algorithms, you can achieve better energy management and operational efficiency. You can also reduce unplanned downtime by up to 75% and planned downtime activities by up to 40%. This extends equipment lifespan and significantly contributes to achieving sustainability targets.

Incorporating digitalization into your operations also facilitates the transition from traditional maintenance models to proactive predictive and condition-based maintenance. This shift further enhances equipment reliability and resilience.

The outcome-focused, structured approach

Developing customer-focused, outcome-based services builds from the most fundamental outcomes to more advanced customer needs. Each step is interconnected:

1. Safety and compliance set the stage for all services. They ensure that every service delivered meets rigorous safety standards and adheres to standards like the newly-mandatory NFPA 70B. It’s more than just ticking boxes. This outcome helps customer buildings and facilities operate in a safe, code-compliant environment that protects their people, customers, equipment, and business integrity.
2. Resilience and reliability fortify infrastructure to prevent potential downtime and failure, keeping productivity resilient and on track. Connected devices and software maximize uptime and create robust recovery protocols for quick bounce-backs from any issues. Resilient operations with reliable electrical networks keep businesses humming, optimizing, and producing goods without skipping a beat.
3. Efficiency and scalability fine-tune the tools and manufacturing processes for peak performance while keeping the door open for growth—like enhancing drives and automating installations—so maintenance doesn’t pause productivity. And because processes and resources for greater efficiency are optimized, operations can scale up to changing demands.
4. Sustainability is now central to customer operations and underpins the move towards circularity. This economic model emphasizes reusing, sharing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and recycling materials and products for as long as possible.

The power of outcome-based services lies in the approach. Customer-focused, outcome-based services build from the most fundamental outcomes to more advanced customer needs. Each step is interconnected.

Demonstrated success of outcome-based services

There are solid, real-world examples of outcome-based services in action. For example, BASF leverages data-driven services and uses high-value data to maximize its power distribution substation, maximize plant uptime, and make the right decisions at the right time. With 63 assets remotely monitored for analysis and over 100 variables measured and computed, the chemical giant can monitor the health of its electrical distribution equipment and its motor control centers that drive its processes. This connectivity allows them to share information with their service provider and troubleshoot issues collaboratively in real-time.

Nestlé Nescafé also uses services with outcomes focused on their needs: predictive maintenance, reliability, and lower total cost of ownership outcomes. Their power disruptions could cost as much as $52K per hour. Their electrical equipment must operate reliably in harsh conditions, so they’ve digitalized their power infrastructure for better operational visibility. They now have improved visibility into their power usage and have implemented a platform that allows for future-proof scalability.

Maximizing value with a comprehensive service partner

The service industry is embracing proactive and preventive strategies that help clients achieve their business goals and challenges. We recognize that each company has its own objectives and challenges, and that it’s important to find the right partnerships that can provide the unique solutions required. At Schneider Electric, our partnerships allow for a wide range of integrated services that cater to every facet of a customer’s operation. We can cover all bases, from digital transformation to outcome-based service delivery.

Schneider Electric Services is a lifelong partner. We aim to create a symbiotic relationship that advances your goals—while anticipating and adapting to needs—to ensure operational continuity and strategic customer advantage.

It’s important to remember that this digital-first shift is as much about people and mindset as technology and requires a significant cultural shift within organizations. Schneider Electric Services can communicate the value of digital connectivity and data analytics, emphasizing the human role in delivering desired outcomes rather than just the technical aspects of connectivity.

Ready to digitalize your business with Industry 4.0?

Our expertise in digitalization, data analytics, and AI offers new perspectives. With EcoCare, EcoConsult, and EcoFit™ you have access to our expertise across the entire lifecycle of your assets and systems. Get started by exploring how Schneider Electric Services can help you meet your business goals and solve challenges.

Tags: AI, Digital Power Services, digital services, Digital transformation, energy management, Industry 4.0