How to improve power availability and reliability in your facility

[Nicolas-Jurdit]

Hello

No matter the facility, unplanned downtime can be extremely costly.
Adding UPS, Genset and Transfer Switch is part of the solution but far from being the only way to improve Power Availability and Reliability.

You will discover in this blog some of the impacts of downtime, and the five ways that digital products, software, and services working together can help on the Power Availability and Reliability improvement.

5 ways to improve power availability and reliability in your facility

Feel free to share & comment.

[T_Parks]

Thanks @Nicolas-Jurdit .

Instructive reading.

🙄don't you think that the development of the "micro-grid" or local energy production could also contribute to increase availability of power into facilities?

I mean: in your blog, you talk about "extreme weather events".

I guess these events can be located far from your business and put the power down for the whole installations around.

But, if your energy supply is located on your rooftop or just the street next door, you may get rid of this "weather event" that occurs overthere.

What do you think?

[RHH · Accepted solution]

Correct @T_Parks,

Only the ''supply'' on roof or nearby you are talking about are mostly not sufficient for 100% of power coverage day in, day out and/or at night, like PV panels.  So you must get an close to 100% efficient power supplier from somewhere else. 
Don't get me wrong, they certainly do help but are inconsistent (bad weather brings alot of clouds etc. with them as well).

Connected to an power grid is still more reliable as long as we don't have alternatives. With the current grow of verhicles and buildings asking for electricity ahead of the capabilities of the grid, load balancing is an solution and/or ''lightener'' for the current grids. Helping and monitoring, making people more aware of the current loads and what is necessary at that time and whats not.

So you can turn components on/off or give less energy at certain periods of time. Unloading the grid, having more energy to spare.

The current challenge (also) is how can we be as efficient with the current power we get and have.

[Nicolas-Jurdit]

Great to read your comments @T_Parks  & @RHH.

I agree that Microgrid can be part of the solution for Power Availability. It is even more true for locations being isolated from the rest of the network (isolated farms, TV stations, telecom towers can be an example but others). In that case, solar panels will help, especially when associated with battery storage. This could reduce the need for Genset (and therefore limiting the impact on the planet, and saving cost).

As @RHH mentioned, it is also true that in most cases, the photovoltaic supply will not cover 100% of the need, and in that case, if the grid is not present anymore, a system of load shedding shall be implemented to maintain the supply for the critical loads only and shed the non-critical feeders.

If you want to go deeper, I advise you this blog: Microgrids give your business energy resiliency

And of course, Schneider Electric Website has also dedicated content about Microgrid, including Making Solar Smarter eBook

[T_Parks]

Thanks a lot @RHH and @Nicolas-Jurdit for your insightful thoughts.