IoT (Internet of Things) is an umbrella term for technologies that may use available network technologies to allow smart behavior and task automation. Out of the many IoT applications currently available, one of the important ones is in the field of renewable energy. Here are some amazing benefits of IoT that you can enjoy by implementing these solutions in renewable energy services:
1. Smart Grid
It is difficult to create smart grids without implementing innovative concepts. The use of a single protocol is essential to ensure that renewable energy can be easily implemented within a conventional network. A smart solution is required because the available energy from solar, wind and hydro resources can be variable according to the specific environmental conditions.
An IoT solution can be implemented by treating each source as an internet protocol (IP) connection and allow it to interact with the grid using a single communication resource. This will allow the consumer to learn about the available resource and use the energy network accordingly. IoT solutions only require low power network connections and can easily provide the advantage of scalability with the energy source and used appliances of a consumer.
2. Automation
Renewable energy is hard to harness with efficiency. This is especially true with solar and wind energy, which is often governed by variable resources. However, with the use of a smart IoT solution, it is possible to implement automated controls that allow your setup to harness the optimum energy from renewable sources. This may require altering the direction of the wind turbine or moving solar panels to ensure maximum efficiency and perpendicular surface to the energy source.
3. Innovation
IoT is an excellent way to improve the use of renewable energy. Since it offers innovation, you can learn about the specific usage patterns with IoT based sensors allowing you to maximize the benefits of renewable energy and limiting the reliance on traditional energy sources like fossil fuels. The innovation is possible in a number of processes and methods.
Companies can grab big data with an IoT solution and then process the numbers to find useful trends. This will help in creating energy use policies that release the current reliance on traditional energy resources and allow renewable energy to work to its full potential.
4. Decentralization
With the increasing demands for renewable energy, centralized data processing is simply not enough to offer the best support. IoT solutions that employ edge computing allow the advantage of decentralization where most data is processed close to the sensors, ensuring that the central energy control must only deal with brief and comprehensive information.
The control over the data transferred over the networks is important since it allows the use of a lower bandwidth to remain connected to other devices. With edge computing, the need for data storage is reduced, and more control is possible with finer analytics. Decentralization works well with devices and sensors that are placed far apart as required in most renewable energy grid solutions.
