AFRICA APAC EUROPE MIDDLE EAST NORTH AMERICA

Once retailers have invested in solar systems , it ’ s vitally important that they continue to manage , monitor and maintain it .

Here , the roles of BMS and Energy Management Systems ( EMS ) cannot be overstated .

To gain the most from their investment in solar energy , retailers must invest in BMS and EMS to not only effectively manage energy supply from various sources such as solar and the grid but also future-proof this major investment .

The South African retail industry ’ s investment in renewable energy such as solar energy is enjoying some significant growth as a result of the country ’ s unstable growth , environmental concerns , cost savings as well as strides to decarbonise operations .

In recent months there ’ s been a number of major retail groups announcing their investment in both renewable energy as well as energy efficient solutions and practices that will contribute towards optimised and stable energy supply .

Massmart is one such group , installing Schneider Electric ’ s EcoStruxure Building Operation ( EBO ) Building Management System ( BMS ) at retail chains Makro , Game , Builders Warehouse as well as Massmart Distribution Centres , situated throughout the country .

In 2022 alone , Massmart achieved annualised energy savings of at least R15 million , recouping its entire investment within 12 months .

Shining the sun on retail

Looking specifically at solar , it makes a lot of sense for retailers to own on-site systems such as solar arrays , inverters and battery storage which are installed and managed in partnership an external , expert system integrator .

Those retailers that have the capital to invest in renewable energy will undoubtedly see the most value in owned on-site systems as it has the potential to offer the highest return on investment as opposed to leasing or power purchase agreements .

If retailers have access to a rooftop , parking lot or open ground space , they can take full advantage of an owned on-site systems ’ potential by increasing the site ’ s property value . Currently some of the largest retail groups in the world such as Walmart own on-site solar systems .

The job of a BMS is primarily to manage and control the building systems , especially HVAC , lighting , access control , etc ., whereas an EMS provides energy , demand and power quality monitoring .

The EMS can facilitate effective energy visualisation and analytics , provide dashboards and trends for energy consumption at equipment , system , building and portfolio levels , which can be used for accurate decision-making .

By using both BMS and EMS , retailers can also accurately assess what their investment will be in renewables , ensuring they don ’ t over or under provision for what the facility requires to run optimally .

Importantly , the BMS will also ensure that when buildings move over to solar , buildings are managed in a manner that makes the most of the various resources available , certain times of the day , thus ensuring the organisations get the most from their investment .

Together , BMS and EMS are critical tools in enabling retailers to gain the most from their investment in solar . x

www . intelligentcxo . com

55