Leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) for Sustainable Energy
Energy, Utilities, Mining and COP28
Zeina Albuainain Associate,Corporate Commercial
The Internet of Things (IoT) is indeed playing a significant role in the digital revolution taking place in the Middle East. The region has been actively adopting and implementing IoT technologies across various sectors, including energy, manufacturing, education, healthcare, logistics, and retail.
In the energy sector, the integration of IoT technology has emerged as a power solution to control energy efficiency. By combining the widespread use of IoT technologies with the need to reduce energy consumption, organisations can unlock new opportunities for sustainable practices. IoT solutions have been increasingly adopted in the energy sector to help reduce energy waste and achieve environmental sustainability.
IoT is commonly defined as a global distributed network (or networks) of physical and/or virtual objects that are capable of sensing or acting on their environment and able to communicate with each other, other machines, or computers. Generally, any object with an internet connection can be transformed into an IoT device. From small lightbulbs that can be controlled with a mobile app to driverless vehicles and smart cities, the IoT promises a smarter and more efficient world.
Energy efficiency means using less energy to do the same thing or something more. Energy efficiency can be achieved by using energy-efficient appliances or modifying energy use habits. Separate to reducing energy costs for individuals and businesses and the strain on finite energy sources, energy efficiency helps to reduce carbon footprint, minimising potential long-term environmental impact.
IoT-based systems have demonstrated playing a significant role in helping organisations and individuals become more energy efficient. Businesses in the energy supply chain, for example, can monitor their energy use and make necessary behavioral changes using the data obtained from IoT systems. Below are some practical applications of IoT towards achieving energy efficiency:
Smart meters, being part of the IoT ecosystem, measure and record energy consumption in real-time using wireless communication to transmit data. They can provide detailed information about energy usage, facilitating remote monitoring and efficient energy management for both consumers and utility companies.
For example, utility companies can use energy consumption data to forecast demand and optimise energy distribution and pricing. This data can also help consumers make more informed decisions regarding their energy consumption.
Smart home systems can help scale back on energy use and avoid waste. These devices can monitor and respond to the changing needs of residents in real-time. Smart thermostats, for example, are Wi-Fi enabled devices that can offer greater functionality and better control of temperature settings, assisting in energy saving. Another example of smart home systems is smart lighting. Smart lighting can contribute significantly to home and office building energy efficiency, by using sensors that respond to schedules, sound, or motion, to switch on or off as needed.
As is the case with smart meters, smart home systems can also provide real-time energy consumption data allowing homeowners to identify areas of inefficiency and make the necessary adjustments to reduce energy consumption.
IoT systems can also enhance energy efficiency in manufacturing and other industrial settings. By leveraging IoT-enabled sensors and devices, such smart systems can continuously monitor the performance and condition of industrial machinery and equipment. Real-time data collection and analysis facilitated via IoT systems can enable companies to identify energy-intensive operations and implement targeted energy-saving measures. For example, IoT sensors can monitor machine performance and automatically adjust settings to maximise energy efficiency.
By combining IoT systems with machine learning algorithms and predictive analysis, these systems can also predict the need for machinery maintenance or repairs, assisting in preventing unexpected equipment downtime which often leads to energy wastage.
There are certain legal considerations concerning the use of IoT systems for energy efficiency. IoT devices collect and transmit significant data which may include personal data, raising questions such as how this data will be stored, accessed, and used. Data protection-related obligations such as ensuring lawful data collection, implementing robust security measures, and attending to consumers’ data protection requests, should all be borne in mind by IoT service providers.
There may be other legal or regulatory issues concerning the use of IoT devices (whether in a general sense, or in the context of energy-efficient systems). These could vary from requirements for IoT service providers to adopt certain technical standards relating to the IoT device, to requirements for utility providers to adhere to certain energy efficiency requirements when deploying IoT devices in their operations.
The role of IoT in global energy efficiency will undoubtedly increase in the coming years. Smart systems could lead to cleaner and more efficient energy use. For these systems to work, there should be appropriate planning regarding the design of IoT products and systems so as to ensure that these are secure and energy efficient as required by applicable laws.
For further information,please contact Zeina Albuainain.
Published in November 2023
