Why Energy Monitoring Matters
Why Energy Monitoring Matters: You Can Only Manage; What You Measure
Energy is one of the largest controllable expenses in industrial facilities. Yet, many operations still lack visibility into when, where, and how energy is used. Without granular data, energy inefficiencies often go undetected, leading to:
- Excess operational costs
- Reduced equipment lifespan
- Increased carbon footprint
- Non-compliance with energy mandates
Effective energy monitoring empowers organisations to make data-informed decisions that optimise equipment usage, reduce peak demand charges, and enable predictive maintenance. On an industrial scale, energy monitoring goes beyond identifying cost-saving opportunities—it also plays a key role in detecting potential issues with equipment and infrastructure. For instance, if your energy monitoring system highlights an unusual spike in power consumption from a specific machine or area, it could indicate a malfunction, the need for maintenance, or general equipment degradation. By catching these signs early through continuous monitoring, you can minimise unplanned downtime, address issues proactively, and extend the overall lifespan of your equipment.
Opto 22: A Foundation for Smarter Monitoring
At the core of reliable energy monitoring systems are robust, flexible, and scalable platforms—qualities that define Opto 22’s product line. Whether you’re retrofitting an existing facility or designing a new build, Opto 22’s industrial-grade products make implementation seamless. The groov RIO EMU simultaneously measures volts AC RMS and amps AC RMS on Category III wye (up to 400 VAC) or delta (up to 600 VAC) circuits. It can monitor three-phase AC current using 0.333 V, 1 V, or 5 A current transformers (CT).
As an edge energy monitoring unit, communicating data between loads and data destinations. You can:
- Push data directly to on-premises or cloud apps, databases, or other software, typically using the included Node-RED software
- Publish data to an MQTT broker
- Respond to Modbus/TCP requests for data
- Configure with browser-based groov Manage software
- Manage local user accounts and permissions, or from a central location through an LDAP server.
The GRV-EPIC-PR2 Edge Programmable Industrial Controller is an embedded Linux®, real-time controller with gateway functions. This groov EPIC® processor provides control, connectivity, data handling, and visualisation at the edge of your network and is ideal for industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications or any automation application. Whether you’re seeking to reduce energy bills, meet sustainability benchmarks, or improve operational transparency, energy monitoring solutions—powered by Opto 22—are engineered to deliver.