Energy management and automation specialist, Schneider Electric, has announced the latest version of its award-winning software, EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert (PME).
Designed to simplify the management of complex power systems, this newest addition to the EcoStruxure Power edge control portfolio provides the most complete insight into critical power networks and applications.
Power Monitoring Expert is a key element within the EcoStruxure Power platform, part of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure architecture, the open and interoperable system architecture for building, grid, industry, and data centre customers.
This latest edition of PME significantly augments its industry leading edge control offers, and is an essential platform within a connected and integrated power distribution network, according to Farokh Ghadially, vice president for Partner Projects and Power Solutions at Schneider Electric.
“EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert is part of our answer to the new energy future. As the power grid continues its evolution to become more dynamic, its systems more complex, and regulations more challenging, PME brings unique new capabilities that make it simpler to protect people and assets, keep operations running, and save time and money,” he said.
“PME provides this future-proof adaptability that modern power networks need. It connects to smart devices across your electrical system, from power and energy meters, to protective relays and circuit breakers, RTUs and PLCs, VSDs, UPS, and PQ mitigation equipment.
“As the untapped potential energy efficiency in industry is over 50% today, this represents massive new possibilities to reduce energy costs and improve operational efficiency.”
In large and critical buildings, Ghadially said uptime and reliability is paramount. For example, power quality issues can cause outages that cost as much as $1 million+ per day, while operations and maintenance costs can represent as much as 80 per cent of the total lifecycle cost over a 50-year period.
Plus, reliability ensures productivity and operational efficiency, so when equipped with the proper data and insight, these facilities can realise new operational efficiencies, opening new avenues of innovation.
EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert helps enable this innovation.
One Schneider Electric customer, a major automotive manufacturer, installed an EcoStruxure Power Monitoring system that included advanced power quality meters for monitoring and troubleshooting power quality problems, helping to minimise downtime and reduce energy costs.
Ghadially said the system paid for itself in two years, one full year ahead of schedule.
“Our customers can discover new levels of efficiency and create a competitive differentiation by leveraging the new capabilities afforded by our high-performance edge control software,” he said.