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Winds of Change: How the renewables revolution is harnessing AI

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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The last government announced funding to help deliver clean energy transitions with the expansion of an artificial intelligence (AI) development scheme. Worth up to – and possibly beyond – £100m, renewable energy is set to be the latest industry to benefit from the artificial intelligence revolution.

After many of the nation’s Net Zero commitments were relaxed or reneged on under the Conservative government, increasing the level of automation in the renewables space could be a key way to reaffirm our net zero goals.

To better understand the myriad use cases of AI in the renewables sector, we spoke with Charlotte Enright, Head of Renewables at commercial finance experts Anglo Scottish Finance to discuss how AI is being used – and could continue to be used – in the future…

Predicting energy demand peaks and troughs

“If you’re anything like me,” says Enright, “you’ll often pop the kettle on for a cuppa during an ad break when watching terrestrial TV – and even while streaming, thanks to the introduction of ads on popular streaming services.” It’s well-known that this has placed strain on the power grid in the past, but now thanks to AI, we can predict more than just a quick cuppa break when we’re waiting for Coronation Street to come back on.

By analysing vast swathes of power usage data, AI can help the power grid manage demand better by understanding when we’re using energy the most. That same principle applies to renewable energy too: these AI-powered systems can understand when renewable energy is available and when it’s required.

This also makes integrating renewable energy into the grid easier. Predicting wind power can help us to understand how much energy can be collected by turbines, which can in turn forecast how much of it will be available to the grid.

Karen Panetta, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ fellow, adds: “[AI is used to] correlate trends and do better forecasting. AI can allow us to explore relationships and look at ways to mitigate failures in the grid and understand how to re-distribute energy in the most efficient ways.”

Keeping energy generators up and running

Renewable energy generators, like wind turbines and solar panels, are not immune from wear and tear and the need for maintenance. But rather than waiting for a fault to occur to fix generators, businesses are using AI for predictive maintenance.

This involves using sensors placed on the generators, which will analyse data and predict when it’ll need maintenance performed. “Considering how many of these generators – particularly wind turbines – are placed in remote locations,” Enright comments, “this allows for the strategic scheduling of maintenance to minimise downtime.”

As well as predicting the maintenance of generators like wind turbines, AI can also be harnessed to monitor temperature and identify hot spots on large-scale solar panels, which can indicate malfunctioning cells. Maintenance can be performed on the panels, but in the meantime, they can be re-angled to optimise the power captured.

Simulating and predicting weather conditions

Another of AI’s many renewable applications lies in its ability to predict – and then simulate – future weather conditions.

Enright says: “Renewable energy will always be available in the sense that there will always be sun, wind, organic material and rain. The unpredictability comes in that it’s not always sunny, rainy or windy – and too much or a lack thereof these conditions can then affect organic materials like the growth of grass and plants.”

“Intelligent weather simulators are being used to predict future weather conditions, giving us insight into our future energy capture potential. But these tools are used in a way that far outstrips simple weather reports; one simulator shows how the layout of a city can impact airflow.

“This means that architects can support the future of renewable energy by using this insight to design buildings and cities that work with the weather and renewable energy sources, not against them,” she adds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cQoYcbUG_M&ab_channel=NVIDIA

Making generators more sustainable

The production of renewable energy supports the fight against climate change, so it must be fully sustainable, right? Well, not necessarily.

Many renewable energy generators are made from rare earth metals, using valuable and limited resources. As well as the materials themselves, the process of manufacturing these generators can be highly energy-intensive.

“AI is being used to speed up trials of new materials and their performance,” Enright adds, “meaning thousands of manual tests can be condensed into a more manageable number. What’s more, AI can support in making sure that these generators are recyclable once they reach their end of life, a key tenet of sustainability.”

The renewable energy sector is one of many that is benefitting from the transformative effects of AI. From ensuring generator uptime is maximised to predicting energy demand and adapting accordingly, we’re seeing this smart technology improve our generation and usage of renewable energy. And considering the importance of the fight against climate change, this may be one of its most important uses to date.

 

DATA COLLECTION MONTH: How to create a goals-oriented approach in your organisation

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Navigating the path to net zero requires a data-driven approach. The first crucial step is identifying your energy data collection needs, which hinges on clearly defined goals. This article explores strategies to set achievable and measurable energy management goals, empowering you to gather the most relevant data for effective decision-making…

Aligning with Organisational Objectives:

  • Sustainability Commitments: Is your organisation committed to achieving specific carbon reduction targets? Aligning your energy management goals with these commitments ensures data collection focuses on metrics that track progress.
  • Cost Reduction Initiatives: Are you aiming to reduce overall energy expenditure? Define goals for targeted energy savings across departments or specific facilities.

Prioritizing Specific Areas:

  • Energy-intensive Processes: Identify processes or equipment within your operations that consume the most energy. Focus data collection on these areas to optimize energy usage.
  • Renewable Energy Integration: Do you aim to increase your reliance on renewable energy sources? Data collection should track energy generation from renewables alongside traditional sources.

Defining Achievable and Measurable Goals:

  • SMART Goals: Frame your energy management goals using the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This ensures goals are clear, quantifiable, and attainable within a defined timeframe.
  • Benchmarking: Research industry benchmarks for energy consumption in your sector. This provides a baseline against which to measure your progress and set realistic goals.

Translating Goals into Data Needs:

  • Metrics for Measurement: Once you’ve defined your goals, identify the specific metrics needed to measure progress. This could include energy consumption by fuel type, peak demand periods, or equipment efficiency metrics.
  • Data Collection Granularity: Determine the level of detail required for your data. Do you need hourly, daily, or monthly data breakdowns to track progress towards your goals effectively?

Additional Considerations:

  • Data Accessibility and Integration: Ensure chosen data collection methods make data readily available for analysis. Consider integration with existing building management systems (BMS) or investing in user-friendly data dashboards.
  • Data Security and Privacy: Implement robust data security measures to comply with UK data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) and ensure the privacy of sensitive energy consumption information.

Benefits of a Goal-Oriented Approach:

By defining clear energy management goals upfront and aligning data collection needs accordingly, senior energy management professionals in the UK can reap significant benefits:

  • Focused Data Collection: Collecting only the data necessary avoids information overload and simplifies analysis.
  • Targeted Improvement Strategies: Data insights pinpoint areas requiring the most attention, allowing you to direct resources towards efficient energy-saving initiatives.
  • Demonstrable Progress: Tracking progress against set goals provides quantifiable evidence of your energy management efforts and their impact on sustainability and cost reduction.

By prioritizing goal-setting and tailoring data collection to your specific needs, you can transform your energy management program into a data-driven force for sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Remember, effective data collection is not about accumulating vast amounts of information; it’s about gathering the right data to inform strategic decision-making and propel your organisation towards its energy goals.

Are you searching for Energy Data Collection Solutions for your organisation? The Energy Management Summit can help!

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Study warns retailers away from compostable packaging

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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A new multi-trial study by independent environmental and behaviour change experts Hubbub and the University of Sheffield, has found significant improvements in the disposal of certified compostable packaging when people are given clear instructions and consistent labelling.

However, Hubbub warn that compostable packaging is not a silver bullet and should only be used in specific circumstances.

The UKRI-funded study, undertaken as part of the Compostable Coalition UK’s research and demonstration project, investigated how people dispose of compostable packaging in office canteens, retailer take-back schemes, and household waste collections.

The findings showed that people are often bewildered about how to properly dispose of compostable packaging, which leads to low levels of effective disposal and can cause contamination in recycling streams.

Based on the findings of the three studies, Hubbub have set out recommendations in a new report – Unearthed. These include:

  • Prioritise the removal of packaging altogether, choosing reuse or sticking to packaging that can be recycled effectively, over switching to compostables
  • Only use compostable packaging where industrial composting collections exist – currently the majority[1] of local authority food waste collections send the waste to anaerobic digestion systems which can’t accept compostable packaging, and home composting has mixed results. If not disposed of correctly, compostable packaging may contaminate recycling streams, be incinerated or end up in landfill.
  • Introduction of mandatory, standardised disposal labellingfor compostable packaging which clearly specifies which bin to use, in line with the OPRL recycling labels used throughout the UK
  • Introduction of a mandatory front-of-pack compostable message – many participants in the research commented that the front-of-pack message tested prompted them to look at the more detailed disposal instructions on the back of packs
  • Clear producer guidelines on the environmental impact of compostable packaging compared to alternative materials to inform packaging decisions

There is currently no standardised or mandatory disposal labelling for compostable packaging in the UK, with the trials revealing a common theme of consumer confusion and difficulty in correctly identifying and disposing of compostable packaging, due to it looking the same as conventional materials and a lack of clear disposal instructions.

In response, Hubbub and psychologists from the University of Sheffield introduced new distinctive disposal labels and clear communications, and saw increases in the correct disposal of compostable packaging across all three trials. The closed-loop office canteen trial saw 2.4 times more compostable packaging disposed of in the correct bins after the introduction of the labels and new bin signage. Contamination also decreased over the trial period and six months post-trial waste audits showed that improvements remained.

The households trial, conducted with Medway local authority, introduced the new labels alongside information on using the food and garden waste bin and the composting process. This also resulted in positive behaviour change with 1.8 times more compostable packaging correctly disposed of per household compared to before.

The retailer return scheme trial with Riverford also saw more than double the number of customers self-reporting that they had returned their compostable packaging to Riverford to be composted, after receiving new paper liners in their food boxes highlighting the return scheme. Despite the positive results in consumer behaviour change across these trials, Hubbub still calls for caution when deciding whether to use compostable packaging.

Hubbub CEO Alex Robinson warns against overreliance on compostables:“The public are rightly concerned about plastic waste and in recent years we’ve seen an increase in alternatives such as compostable packaging. However, the huge variety of compostables and lack of consistency not only confuses people but can cause significant issues for our waste and recycling systems. There are very specific methods for disposing of the packaging to ensure it gets composted and we simply don’t currently have the infrastructure to support this in the UK.

“There’s a common misconception that using compostable packaging is a quick fix for replacing single-use packaging in an environmentally friendly way, but this often isn’t the case. Both the British public and businesses want to do the right thing, but we need to give them the right guidance to do this. While clear labelling can improve disposal rates, it’s crucial to remember that compostables are not a replacement for a waste reduction strategy.”

Dr Nicola Buckland, Chartered Psychologist, University of Sheffield said: “Across the three studies it was clear that there is consumer confusion around compostable packaging. The interventions we developed and trialled aimed to reduce this confusion by using a number of reminders, including clear and distinctive packaging labels which specified which bin to use for compostable packaging. The results provide compelling evidence that such strategies can be useful for reducing consumer confusion and increasing the rates that compostable packaging ends up in the right bin for industrial composing.”

Compostable Coalition UK includes organisations from the compostable packaging industry, the waste industry and associations, and independent academic and environmental charity experts. The advisory board includes representatives from some of the UKs largest retails, Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Ocado Retail along with WWF and the executive director of OPRL.

Emptying the bins with IoT: Reducing waste and improving manufacturing productivity

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Manufacturers face rising energy and labour costs, regulatory pressures, and growing environmental responsibilities. Among their common challenges is waste management inefficiency. Traditionally, industrial waste bins, especially in expansive setups like automotive production lines, are emptied on fixed schedules, often before they are full, leading to resource wastage. Internet of Things (IoT) technology offers a solution that equips bins with sensors to monitor fill levels. This enables real-time data collection to optimise waste collection processes, reduces unnecessary trips, and reallocates human resources to more critical tasks.  

Gareth Mitchell, UK Partner Manager, Heliot Europe explains how sensors, IoT and LPWAN technology helps reduce waste within manufacturing, and helps streamline the refuse collection process…

The hidden ‘waste’ in waste collection

To appreciate the extent of the waste management problem within manufacturing, consider an example from the automotive manufacturing industry. In this sector,  production lines are often very long, and can extend to over a kilometre in length. Now imagine at each stage of production there are individual disposal or refuse bins for each type of waste that is produced during production – standard waste, specialised waste, or waste for recycling. In order to make the best use of time, these bins should preferably be completely full before they are emptied – but it’s often the case that they are not.

Additionally, in many refuse collection situations, a subcontractor is used to collect waste from bins. When they are not completely full – a wasted trip is made to collect refuse. Moreover, the process for checking the fill level of a bin is often wasteful in itself. This is because employees are generally given the task of checking how full bins are, depending on the manufacturer’s process and type of waste, which eats into potential productivity and output for these workers. Additionally, without specific monitoring data or insights, the cadence for collection is often wrong and misaligned. Should staff really spend time checking how full a rubbish bin is when they could be productive elsewhere?

Therefore, the entire waste collection process can be wasteful for many manufacturers – both in terms of how the bins are filled and how resource and productivity is wasted in managing or collecting bins. Should manufacturers really spend financial resource with waste collection sub-contractors to collect bins when they aren’t truly full? These problems indicate that the tracking of waste within bins needs improving, as does the situation around communicating when bins need to be collected and replaced.

Automating waste management

A better alternative to collecting half full bins or manually checking the status of waste disposal would be to lean on the use of the IoT, to help improve human productivity and efficiency, and to make the tracking and collection of bins more efficient. In this scenario, bins could be fitted with IoT sensors and connected to back-office IT systems, where they could accurately report on how much waste is in a bin in real-time or as near to ‘real-time’ as needed. This kind of information could digitise the management of waste more effectively.

The sensors could measure the status of the bin’s volume or mass. They could provide data about how full the bin is and this information could be shared with the manufacturer and third-party waste collection firms to deduce the most opportune time or day to collect waste. Since sensors would be placed in bins and determine how full the bin is (e.g. by weight or fill level); it would then mean that manufacturers could train and deploy employees to other tasks within the organisation too, recouping this lost productivity.

Since the bins would be connected to the internet via the sensors, it would also be easy for manufacturers and sub-contractors to gain a more accurate idea of where bins are located and the extent to which they need replacing.  Does the cadence for collection with the sub-contractor need to change, for instance? Is there a more sensible route within the factory itself to collect the waste? This data could enhance the waste management strategy completely.

In some scenarios, manufacturers make use of re-usable packaging to store or transport goods too. In glass production, for example, where windscreens for cars are produced, the glass windscreen might be produced and loaded onto an A-Frame Stillage (trolley or rack). These racks would then be transported to an automotive manufacturer – but they would need to be returned to the glass manufacturer. So, in this example, IoT sensors help with tracking and tracing the location of racks and other reusable packaging so they can be returned and re-used effectively. Naturally, this approach has applications and uses within other re-usable packaging scenarios too.

Connectivity and sensors

A significant benefit of this technology is that these sensors can be retrofitted onto existing bins within manufacturing warehouses and locations. These sensors are also often equipped to be able to connect to various data networks in several ways too. In this environment, where alternate technologies such as WiFi and 4G struggle (cellular) to penetrate metal and large machinery, the most cost effective and reliable method of data connectivity comprises using a selection of appropriate forms of low powered wide area network (LPWAN) connectivity. For example, one such LPWAN option includes Sigfox’s 0G radio technology.

The reason LPWAN connectivity is preferable is because LPWAN networks consist of wireless wide area network technologies that interconnect low-bandwidth, battery-powered devices with low bit rates over long ranges. This is key because it helps keep costs of data transmission low. Further, since higher data transmissions often equate to more cost and power usage in sensors and IoT devices, it becomes important where possible to ensure battery life for sensors and devices is as long as possible. This is because once a device is located in the field, it makes it more expensive to maintain if the battery needs to be changed regularly. LPWAN devices typically last around 5 or so years in these scenarios.

Another reason that many organisations choose LPWAN connectivity over cellular is because LPWAN connectivity gateways can be easily set up across manufacturing sites or production facilities with ease. This means LPWAN can connect devices in hard-to-reach places with patchy signal, and can even penetrate underground. Moreover, it is much more straightforward and quicker for an LPWAN provider to set up additional network connectivity than it is for a mobile phone company to expand their network. What is more, LPWAN providers offer more robust service level agreements compared to cellular providers. All of these benefits make LPWAN technology a strong choice in providing connectivity for smart-refuse services, offering cost and time efficiencies in installation, usage and maintenance.

Conclusion

In manufacturing, waste not only pertains to the materials used, but also to inefficiencies in waste management itself. With IoT and LPWAN technologies, manufacturers can improve traditional waste management processes. Smart bins equipped with IoT enabled sensors can optimise collection schedules, enhance productivity, and reduce unnecessary collection trips for both workers and sub-contractors. By leveraging real-time data, companies can ensure resources are allocated and utilised effectively, cutting costs, and improving overall efficiency. This technology, driven by LPWAN connectivity, has the potential to streamline waste management and, at the same time, contribute to a more sustainable and productive manufacturing environment. As IoT technology continues to evolve, the manufacturing industry stands to benefit significantly from these innovative solutions.

BAE Systems, HS2 and Creagh Concrete join the Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Digital Catapult, the UK authority on advanced digital technology, has welcomed eight new participants to the Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator, which seeks to improve resource and energy efficiency in UK manufacturing.

Working with BAE Systems, HS2 and Creagh Concrete, the participating companies will receive support from innovation experts at Digital Catapult to co-develop solutions that will establish a more sustainable industrial future.

Delivered by Digital Catapult, the programme is funded by Made Smarter and Innovate UK, to build on the success of the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator, which paired UK manufacturers with technology companies to adapt and improve their approach to industrial innovation.

The new programme will foster deeper strategic collaborations between tech innovators and industrial pioneers to advance sustainable manufacturing initiatives, including the application of digital twin technologies.

BAE Systems, which provides some of the world’s most advanced defence, aerospace and security assets, will work with Digica Solutions Ltd to develop a digital twin of its Factory of the Future research centre. Digica’s solution will demonstrate how environmental factors affect manufacturing operations, while Quaisr Ltd will combine physics-based models with data-driven machine learning tools to increase operational efficiency, whilst reducing energy consumption and resource waste.

HS2 is constructing Britain’s new high-speed railway, comprising 140-miles of track, four new, state-of-the art stations, two depots, 32 miles of tunnel, and 179 bridges. Construction is based at over 350 active sites between West Midlands and London, most of which will be converted to green sites in the coming years, with Infinitive Group Ltd and Material Index seeking to improve the sustainability of this work by optimising the planned deconstruction process. Both startups will develop digital software tools to integrate and analyse deconstruction-related data effectively to support informed decision making about material recapture and reuse, ensuring that when sites are no longer needed, they are sustainably deconstructed.

One of the UK’s largest producers of concrete products, Northern Ireland-based Creagh Concrete, will collaborate with DataFlowIQ, Linearworks, Kinsetsu and Coraledge Ltd to gain accurate, comprehensive insight into its production process. Optimising and digitalising the manufacturing process, while improving energy and operational efficiency, will enable Creagh Concrete to maintain its competitive edge and achieve its sustainability goals.

The programme will offer participants support in the form of sustainability masterclasses, technical monitoring, innovation expertise and peer-to-peer support, to grow each company’s capabilities. The programme will play a critical role in advancing industrial sustainability through the adoption of deep technology, and comes as it was announced that the country is halfway to net zero, with emissions cut by 53% between 1990 and 2023.

Participating startups and SMEs will each receive £75,000 funding to develop a proof of concept and a further £100,000 will be available for up to four companies to progress to phase two. Phase two will support the successful companies to develop pilot prototypes, culminating in a showcase in early 2025 to pitch their solutions to investors and industry leaders.