Andhra Pradesh: Low-cost device to be inducted to promote energy efficiency

Vijayawada: Considering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector as the engine of growth as they create large-scale employment in the State, the AP Energy Department has decided to introduce global technologies to improve energy performance in MSMEs, promote capacity building and adopt best practices.

The Energy Department is contemplating introducing a novel low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) enabled power factor control devices in MSME units in the STtate after the MSMEs resume operation post-nation-wide COVID-19 lockdown. The IoT based device will improve performance of MSME unit by bringing energy efficiency through IoT. The energy savings will enormously help the MSMEs which are the worst-hit by the lockdown.

According to Energy Department senior official, the State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM), State Designated Agency (SDA) of AP has recently entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry led National Productivity Council (NPC) to introduce the novel low-cost IoT based devices in MSME units.

The NPC, Government of India along with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad, has recently developed and demonstrated the IoT based device to improve performance of MSME Unit by bringing energy efficiency through IoT. The device supports real-time monitoring of various electrical parameters and communicates the information to cloud.

The device was deployed for demonstrating the real-time usefulness in two MSME units near Rajahmundry under pilot project which helped the units in avoiding excessive energy billing, protection of industrial machinery from high voltage and offered monitory savings, said a senior officer of energy department on Sunday. He felt the MSME sector would immensely benefit in the present critical time by using the device.