[box type=”shadow” ]Synergies between ‘Information, Integration and Innovation’ can overcome the challenges faced with energy costs and operational efficiency, says Pankaj Mishra, General Manager, Global Solution Organization, Segment Head-Water and Waste Water, Schneider Electric India[/box]
Before addressing the innovation, it needs understanding of key challenges of the water industry i.e. ageing infrastructure, energy and operational costs, increased regulations, response to emergency situations, adaption of technology to address the changing workforce, ensuring the public health, safety and security. These challenges could be overcome by innovating energy and operational efficiency and ensuring the total cost of ownership.
Energy efficiency by means of effective planning services, integration from field to Dashboard and new technology adaptation (Drives System & Advanced process control), operational efficiency by reducing NRW, safe and reliable operations by following high regulation norms and Integrated information for better decision making. Proven solution, extended lifecycle product support, upgradation with latest technology and asset management will contribute to total cost of ownership.
What is smart meter network and how does it work especially in India?
Smart Water Network solutions improve the efficiency, longevity and reliability of the underlying physical water network by better measuring, collecting and analyzing data from, and supporting appropriate action for, a wide range of network events. A Smart Water Network is not simply an individual system that optimizes a network’s efficiency but rather a means of linking together multiple systems within a network to share “data across Platforms”, making your Utility SMART building synergy between Information, Integration and Innovation.
What are the challenges faced in waste water plants in India?
Any treatment plant, especially wastewater, has high capex & opex cost, aging infrastructure and resources, climate change pushing for higher regulations and upcoming biggest challenge is technology adaptability and cyber security.
How much of a difference Schneider’s technology has brought about in terms of energy costs and operations cost?
Significantly, Schneider Electric has longstanding global expertise in both the water industry and energy management. Based upon this, solutions are designed for treatment and network. These are powered by EcoStruxure & StructureWare™ – an Active Energy Management and Process Architecture.
One such customised water-wastewater solution is the simple, ready-to-go, scalable Energy & Process Optimization System. This Energy Management Information System (EMIS) helps manage and optimize customers’ energy at the plant level and across multiple plants and/or sites. This technology can save utilities up to 20% just by making realtime energy intelligence available to operators and managers. This intelligence is actionable and can help find ways of cutting operating costs by up to 25%. On an average, energy consumption can account for up to 30% of a site’s operating costs. Based upon its modular design, the Energy Optimization System allows customers to utilize only the functions they need. Later, as energy management needs and investment capacities evolve, these can be scaled up.
Wastewater treatment plants are high energy centric units. Schneider contributes complete electrical and automation solution starting from Transformer, Sub Station solution, MV & LV Boards, Drives / Soft Starters LV Bus duct, final distribution, critical power, Plant Control and SCADA system and Telemetry solutions.
Any new technology in the Pipeline?
Adaptability of IoT in Water Industry is our new goal to transform Enterprise. WNO (Water Network Optimization) analytical solution will help customers to solve real time business needs. Solutions will simulate real time modelling, pump & reservoir optimization, pressure optimization, and leak & loss management. Operators will have work-slow management and visualization. Complete integrated project will reduce the risk of low pressure and water quality, proactive management, energy & chemical optimization (in turn will reduce the Opex investment) and real time network visualization for ease of operator.