12/04/2021
The possibility of real-time monitoring energy consumption in every room of a house or by type of equipment is a way to create greater awareness about spending and to lead to energy savings. This solution has been adopted particularly by large companies. To expand the use of this solution, Neoenergia distributors supported the development of a tool that may also include small and medium-sized companies and residential clients. By means of the Energy Efficacy Program (PEE), regulated by the National Agency of Electric Energy (Aneel), four concessionaires of the group: Coelba (BA), Celpe (PE), Cosern (RN) and Elektro (SP & MS) – have set a partnership with Smartiks, a startup company from Campina Grande (PB) to research this technology.
“With this project we want to build a low-cost platform to monitor energy generation and consumption in real time. Such platforms might be used in homes and in combination with other technologies in the future. By means of this instant follow-up of instruments, it is possible to understand how, when and where energy is being consumed, and from this information, build awareness to change habits and save energy. Energy efficiency is a way to reduce usage and help preserve the environment”, says Neoenergia’s Energy Efficiency, Ana Christina Mascarenhas.
A prototype was developed to be installed near the power meter. Once it is connected to the Wi-Fi network of the residence, it transmits information on consumption to a system created by the startup company. This data is analyzed instantly and in an automated way. In the project, a user-friendly interface was also developed to make the information available to the consumer more easily, both on the computer and on the mobile phone, through an application.
It is possible to find out, for example, in which period of the day energy is consumed the most, and the consumption of each device separately, for example, to find out what percentage of the total usage comes from the air conditioning, from the refrigerator or the electric shower. With the data analysis, the solution can also provide tips for energy efficiency from the consumption profile of each user.
The tests started in November 2020 in seven buildings in Salvador (BA). Six of them are equipped with photovoltaic panels, a trend in the electric sector. In its 10-Year Plan, the Energy Research Company (EPE) estimates that by 2030 the installed distributed generation capacity can be between 16.8 GW and 24.5 GW, whereas today it is 4.2 GW. Out of this total, 93% is from photovoltaic sources. In these cases, one instrument is installed on the meter and another on the inverter, which allows monitoring the energy generation and consumption. The user can filter the information in real time either daily or in the monthly cycle.
The startup company was selected in the New Energy Challenge (“Desafio Nova Energia”), a partnership among Neoenergia providers and the National Service for Industrial Training (Senai) to promote development of innovative solutions in energy efficiency in three areas: reduction in energy consumption, distributed generation, and new educational technologies.