Digitalisation for sustainable energy development in 4.0 times

Digitalisation for sustainable energy development in 4.0 times

By 2030, Vietnam is predicted to be one of the most dynamic economies in the world, with 40 per cent of its GDP coming from the industry, and more than 50 million people using smartphones and 5G. The world is changing fast, but Vietnam is even faster.

The development has led to an increase in energy demand for all business activities. Vietnam needs 150,000MW of electricity and most of its supply must come from renewable energy – mainly solar and wind power. According to scientific reports, by 2035, Vietnam’s electricity use is expected to increase by 60 per cent. Although the growth index is rising fast, the statistical results show that energy efficiency in Vietnam is still slow compared to other countries in the region and the world.

Nowadays, Vietnam aims to develop its economy following the digital trend of Industry 4.0, which indicates that electricity usage will continue to expand. However, the power supply cannot meet current high demand, although actual electricity production has increased by more than 10.7 per cent over 2018.

All enterprises need an efficient energy management system – not only in Vietnam, but across most developing countries, where companies need a step-by-step digital transformation roadmap to optimise their business model, reduce energy use, and cut carbon emissions.

Luc Remont, executive vice president, International Operations, Schneider Electric, recently visited Vietnam. He said, “The big transformation is led essentially by the fact that there is big growth in the need for energy, particularly in fast-growing countries like Vietnam, and this is exacerbated by high population growth and industrialisation. We live in a fast-changing world, seeing new-generation models in the energy landscape with much more renewable energy. It is widely distributed, which helps to balance the demand and supply of energy. Also, we need digitalisation to connect users and their needs in real time.”

Digitalisation for sustainable development

When technology becomes a critical part of business models and our relation with the environment, increasing productivity, cost-savings, and environmentally friendly production and consumption are completely achievable. As an inevitable trend, energy management and automation are the keys to success in this transition. Digital technology has been creating new business models, enhancing customer experience and future development in all areas.

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, understands that “Digitalisation is the present, energy is the future” and is ready for sustainable development with its key hero solution – EcoStruxure.

EcoStruxure helps companies promote efficiency, as well as increase flexibility and reliability in production and business systems. Each new product at Schneider Electric is connected to EcoStruxure, making management and upgrade effortless. This contributes to creating an integrated, supportive ecosystem, thereby creating a sustainable energy future.

“Sustainable energy is the absolute core of Schneider Electric’s technology,” Remont explained. “There are many different dimensions to sustainability, but the thing we want to aim for is energy efficiency, ensuring efficient production, consistent operations, and protecting people from dangerous incidents. We are also working on solutions that release less CO2 into the environment but are twice as efficient. That is the challenge we are taking on.”

Remont added that anticipation is an important part of sustainability as it helps prevent issues and come up with solutions. “One of the latest solutions that Schneider Electric holds is the new circuit breaker, which relies on digitalisation to foresee problems and avoid them as soon as they arise,” Remont explained.

New launch – Masterpact MTZ

Schneider Electric has been operating in Vietnam for the past 25 years with the consistent vision that “Life is ON”. In the future, the brand will continue to be a pioneer in digital transformation. The most recent demonstration is the launching of its next generation of low voltage power circuit breaker – Masterpact MTZ.

Masterpact MTZ takes the lead in power system uptime and energy efficiency with its onboard Ethernet communications and Class 1 (≤1 per cent error) active power metering accuracy built into every circuit breaker.

Masterpact MTZ also allows remote control via Bluetooth LE, helping maintenance staff stay away from the arc flash area while operating the device. With the advent of digital modules, Masterpact MTZ circuit breaker is specially designed for application and customisation at any time without power loss.

From installation, operation, maintenance, and digital upgrades, Masterpact MTZ helps elevate the safety and control of circuits for major power distribution to a new level. The product is also easily upgraded through digital methods to achieve the highest efficiency of management and operation of facilities and buildings, ensuring the goals of performance, safety, reliability, and the equipment’s lifetime.

No matter the scale of the business, MTZ is always connected into the same system to form a network compatible with many different environments.

“We are redefining the power distribution industry in a new era, the era of electricity, and our Masterpact MTZ is an excellent example of this,” said Su Ngoc Danh, vice president of Schneider Electric Vietnam.