Schneider Electric promises efficient water management
01 September 2015
Schneider Electric says its innovative water management solutions can ensure savings of up to 30 per cent in energy consumption, a 25 per cent increase in operational efficiency and a 20 per cent reduction in the total cost of ownership for municipal and industrial water and wastewater customers.
Its expert solutions address concerns that exist along the complete lifecycle of water treatment – spanning the quality of natural water sources (dams, seas and rivers), treatment and desalination plants, transmission and distribution networks of potable water, and finally sewage treatment plants that handle waste water.
“As the water scarcity threat grows substantially with the onset of urbanisation, climate change or expanding populations, it is up to organisations to revamp their infrastructure and install smarter, innovative systems which enable effective water management,” says Yarob Alkassar, global strategic accounts director, water and wastewater Segment for Middle East, Schneider Electric.
“In a water or wastewater facility, managing energy/electricity costs can be a tricky and challenging business as they usually represent up to 30 per cent of the total operating costs. Reliable power availability remains critical to maintaining the flow of clean, safe drinking water without compromising on energy saving or sustainability goals.”
As part of its commitment to sustainable development and energy management, Schneider Electric’s innovations for the water segment are designed to effectively manage this precious natural resource, for both industrial and human consumption.
He says the company helps clients with the critical task of continuing to provide water to the population while solving water challenges surrounding energy usage during treatment and processing, and ensuring the safety of the final product, in addition to regulating operational costs of plants.
Schneider’s offerings in this segment can be divided into six solution categories that include plant and network optimisation, plant and network management, automation and control, electrical distribution, critical power and cooling, and facility security and safety.
Alkassar says information technology is also a key component of modern utilities. “Every time a utility gathers, treats, and distributes water, companies accumulate mission-critical data on energy. By leveraging this adequately, business operations can be analysed and improved in the long run. In this case, a smart water network not only provides enhanced automated process control but also can fully process data in real time to yield meaningful information that can be put to work– to save water and labour costs, optimise compliance and security, and assure good customer service.”
To provide a comprehensive portfolio for resource monitoring and management, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure integrated systems architectures make water and wastewater management efficient, productive, and eco-friendly. They can be implemented in pumping stations or treatment plants to help save up to 30 per cent operating expenditure, capital expenditure and design costs in the long term. The company also ensures that they meet local operational and environmental benchmarks.
Commenting on the role of an energy optimisation in these water systems, Alkassar says the management and information system enables wastewater treatment plant managers and operators to tap into dormant energy saving potential, optimise their energy use via monitoring mechanisms, and reduce overall energy-related operating costs. The system helps wastewater treatment plant managers and operators to manage their energy and make the decisions that improve their energy efficiency, productivity and business sustainability while maintaining high water quality.
According to Alkassar, an energy optimisation system offers a range of benefits: it helps understand and reduce energy consumption; identifies and benchmarks best practices across plant sites; offers accurate billing and estimations of energy usage; optimises the energy source; reduces energy costs per cu m of wastewater treated; improves carbon dioxide emission management; and adheres to environmental regulations.
He says in the Middle East, Schneider Electric has provided solutions to help clients manage distribution of drinking water networks through its OASyS system and leak detection for networks. It also provides power and automation solutions for desalination plants and advanced solutions for sewage treatment plants.
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