EDITOR ’ S CHOICE AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH
SIEMENS
UK manufacturers must step-up energy resilience planning to meet the challenges of tomorrow
All industries require access to reliable , uninterrupted power as well as robust dependable contingency measures to fall back on in the event of a failure . Yet despite the importance placed on maintaining the supply of energy , Siemens says UK manufacturers are failing to recognise the risks posed by critical ageing electrical energy assets . Manufacturers are being cautioned : more needs to be done to strengthen energy resilience plans if the challenges of tomorrow are to be met .
“ Critical electrical power equipment , which has accumulated over decades , forms a significant backbone of today ’ s manufacturing industry . Either housed in a single location or clustered across multiple sites , a complex patchwork of modern and legacy technologies makes up the electrical systems powering UK manufacturing . Interspersed throughout the country , these engineering assets have been added to , adapted , maintained and repaired or replaced over time ; all are at various stages and states of health in a sprawling complicated picture of electrical systems ,” says Toby Horne , senior lead for Siemens Energy Resilience - a multidiscipline practice in the UK with a remit to help businesses formulate a more strategic , comprehensive and innovative approach to energy resilience and modern power systems .
Continues Horne : “ These systems are supplying energy to , in almost all cases , mission critical operations but years
A lack of visibility makes it difficult to see and understand the level of risk within your power infrastructure . of reactive maintenance , planned or emergency repairs and differing or inconsistent service practices have made it near impossible , for a significant proportion of businesses , to accurately gauge how these electrical assets are actually shaping up . Many are not aware of whether their systems can handle even greater demands , others are simultaneously grappling with an energy transition that is adding supply diversification , on-site energy production and decarbonisation targets to their sites – posing additional risks , more points of failure and ever more pressure .”
Siemens is advocating a smarter , more sustainable way to manage energy resilience which will provide better insulation against the dangers of blackouts , the complete interruption of power that halts operations and brownouts , partial or temporary reduction in system capacity . Branded - Resilience-as-a-Service - the ‘ vital signs ’ of a business ’ electrical estate are scrutinised from every conceivable angle .
6 PECM Issue 49