In 2023, AWPower launched a new division focusing on comprehensive resource management solutions for solar and water.
Leveraging IoT principles for monitoring, control, and integration of energy and water sources, a pilot site was established at a renowned eco estate. Here, solar replaced grid energy not only for traditional structures but also for sewage systems and water pumps. This innovative approach not only ensured energy and water security but also resulted in substantial cost savings on electricity, sewer system maintenance, and conventional switch-gear upkeep.
Throughout the pilot project, it became evident that existing management systems for sewage pumps, pond pumps for water circulation in the aquatic estate, and irrigation pumps were not operating efficiently, and were ready for a digitising upgrade.
AWPower conducted an engineering analysis to explore best practices and emerging trends in solar PV/sewer pump management/solar pumps. The research and development efforts at AWPower produced the following results:
- Pump Inverters were being introduced to feed pumps with solar-generated electricity, yielding much higher efficiencies (including lower cost) than could be achieved with a typical system consisting of PV with grid-tied or battery-tied inverter. By digitizing the traditional pumping switchgear and control mechanisms, the costs have been drastically reduced and efficiencies and reliability greatly enhanced.
- The introduction of cloud-based monitoring and control systems including dashboards and logic for managing pump start & stop commands, based on input received from integrated level sensors, would greatly enhance the management of such integrated power and water systems.
- By installing several decentralised systems on the eco estate, attractive savings are being achieved when the total installed cost is compared to a large system powering the complete estate, where a high percentage of the cost is attributable to cabling expenses.
- Cloud-based monitoring and control systems can also be integrated to outside systems such as ERP/Accounting systems where automated invoicing of electricity consumption is facilitated.
