Mitsubishi Electric and PointSix Wireless have both launched energy management system (EMS) products.
Mitsubishi says its EMS technology responds to supply-demand conditions, tailoring power savings to each user depending on its capacity to reduce power use.
Customers consuming large amounts, such as operators of buildings or factories, report their power saving capacities depending on the time of day, and desired incentives to utilities. Mitsubishi’s EMS aggregates this information and predicts total power-curtailment capacities and incentives. The system then calculates the distribution of optimized power-saving requirements and incentives for individual users.
This helps stabilize supply, and prevents utilities from having to repeatedly ask customers to save power, the company says.
The system also calculates optimized incentives by taking into account fluctuating power-generation costs, market prices and the power-saving capability of each customer. It calculates optimal power generation volume, electricity transactions and power savings to achieve power savings and cost reductions for both utility supply and customer usage.
Additionally, the technology helps avoid the construction of costly and unnecessary power-generation and transmission facilities in electrical systems that would otherwise be required for power generation and distribution during periods of peak demand.
Mitsubishi developed the technology through its Smart Grid Demonstration Project initiative.
Meanwhile, PointSix Wireless has announced the first WiFi version of its Point Pulse Counter (pictured). The device provides wireless notification to detect power outages and track energy usage for seamless energy management even during an outage. Battery or line powered, the device counts, records and accumulates pulse outputs on gas, water and electric meters.
The Point Pulse Counter has over-the-air configuration and compatibility with existing building automation systems. Battery changes every three to five years are the only maintenance the sensors require. The device is available in single or dual pulse input channels and includes an integrated 802.11.g WiFi module.
Duke Energy has deployed the Point Pulse Counter to augment its energy efficiency programs and services, according to PSW.
