Elektrovat Proposes Solar Panels and BMS System as Main Ways to Save Energy

Elektrovat was founded in 1990 and is now a highly-positioned company in the market with primary activities in electrical energy, automation and management of production processes, as well as stage lighting and mechanical systems for theaters, TV and film studios.

After more than 30 years of existence, we are still trying to be a step ahead of everybody else and contribute to a wider ecological image to the general benefit of all.

Therefore, we approach every project with fresh ideas, paying attention to the smallest details, and we always inform the investors of the solutions which lead to great savings and a better business in the long term.

Elektrovat also had the opportunity to take part, in cooperation with the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, in the Young Energy Europe program, where our employees had the opportunity for professional development in energy efficiency and resource optimization.

One of the important items that we pay special attention to is energy efficiency. Energy optimization is the optimization of the way you use energy in an industrial or a home environment. This goes further than a simple lower user of energy and should include an increase in energy efficiency (and savings) in spaces in which you are located. This can help improve the performances of your system through a non-excessive use of energy, which in itself brings economic and environmental benefits.

As the main ways to save energy and achieve general energy efficiency, we propose solar panels and the BMS system.

Solar panels have quickly become the main alternative energy sources in the world. Many company owners may think that it is not affordable for small or medium companies, but that is not true. In the past years, the price of solar panels has dropped to a large extent and they now provide benefits for the industrial sector as well. The costs of purchase and installation continue to drop, and new producers which offer a better and cheaper product are appearing in the market.

All this makes solar panels one of the most efficient ways to save energy, thereby leading to ecological and economic advantages, which benefit every business.

We have tested ourselves the advantages provided by solar panels, so you can see on our roof a photovoltaic system of a total joint installed power of the photovoltaic modules of 150.7 kWp.

The average consumption per employee in one year in a facility of 2805 m2 amounted to 2749 kWh. After the installation of photovoltaics, the average consumption per employee in one year in an extended facility of 3786 m2 is 1280 kWh, which, in the first year of the operations of the solar panels, led to savings of EUR 15,498.

The advantages of solar panels are:

• Lower electricity bills

Solar energy has become a sustainable and cost-effective energy alternative, with a life cycle of 25-30 years. This makes your energy bills predictable, with lower costs. Also, thanks to new technologies, the maintenance and supervision of solar system is not a major expenditure these days.

As a company which uses plenty of electrical energy to power the equipment and interior and exterior lighting, the best way to control your costs is to find alternative energy sources, such as solar energy.

• Renewable energy

Solar energy is a 100% clean, renewable energy source, which reduces the dependence on oil, coal and natural gas for the production of electrical energy. These fossil fuels produce harmful emissions which have an impact on the quality of air, water and land and are responsible for global warming. Experts estimate that, by 2065, our planet will lose more plant and animal species due to extinction than in the past 65 million years combined. These statistics show the effects of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels.

On the other hand, solar energy does not produce pollution. The copious sun energy is an unlimited source of energy which doesn’t harm the ozone layer. Industrial solar energy systems are an investment in the future of the planet which can help us preserve non-renewable energy sources and protect the environment.

• Increase the value of the facility through energy efficiency

The installation of solar panels on your company’s roofs can increase the value of your property and help you sell it faster if you intend to do so in the future.

When a building has solar panels, a part of the energy the building needs can be produced through solar panels, which means that the short-term and long-term operating expenses will be lower than the comparable buildings which don’t have solar panels.

• Reduced carbon-dioxide emissions

Saving the planet and reducing carbon-dioxide emissions and emissions of other carbon-based components and the consumption of fossil fuels are growing more relevant with each day. Unlike fossil fuels, solar panels produce electrical energy without polluting the air or producing carbon-dioxide, ash, or other waste products.

An increasing number of companies is now looking for a supplier with low carbon-dioxide emissions, and end-buyers pay attention to this argument and the social responsibility of their supplier or contractor.

• Easier monitoring of your ROI

Consumers can use apps for monitoring their roof solar system. Usually, apps enable the installers of the photovoltaic equipment and the owners of the system to check the latest data and carry out remote supervision at any moment and from any place, using their mobile phones.

• Lower maintenance costs

Solar energy systems do not require much maintenance in general. You only need to keep them relatively clean. The most reliable producers of solar panels offer a 20-25-year guarantee.

As there are no moving parts, there is no wearing out. The inverter is usually the only part that needs to be replaced after 5-10 years, because it constantly turns solar energy into electrical and heating energy. In addition to the inverter, the cables also require maintenance in order to ensure that your solar system is working at a maximum efficiency.

Therefore, after covering the initial costs of a solar system, you can expect very few maintenance and repair costs.

• Self-consumption of electrical energy

This renewable energy from an inexhaustible resource such as the Sun can be very efficiently used in all kinds of industrial processes. If you want to stop depending on companies which trade electrical energy and the prices they dictate, you have the option of investing in photovoltaic panels in order to secure electrical and heating energy in order to have heating and sanitary hot water in your industrial facilities.

• Less service interference

Although renewable energy also depends on weather conditions, it is more stable and easily distributed than traditional fossil fuels. In most cases, you will not experience service halts with renewable energy. This enables your company to remain open and continue progressing. When your competition is left without energy, this can make a difference.

• Improve your company’s image

Looking for new ways to attract purchasers and clients can definitely be a challenge, especially when you run out of ideas. However, considering that the number of people who want to make conscious decisions on purchase is increasing with every day, switching to renewable energy sources will give you the option of placing your business as green.

New generations are especially interested in purchasing from green and sustainable companies. As they grow older and become an increasingly big part of the purchasing population, you will want to create marketing strategies that they will like. Switching to green operations can be a great way of improving the much-needed public relations and can make a difference between a client which chooses your business or that of your competition.

• Stay ahead of the game

Choosing to switch to RES while still new can position your company as an advanced and innovative business. When other companies start changing themselves, they will remember that you were among the first ones to do so and they will continue asking you for ideas about trends.

BMS systems

Building Management Systems, the so-called BMS systems, are “intelligent” networks based on microprocessors, installed for the purpose of supervision and management of technical systems and services in buildings such as air-conditioning, ventilation, lighting… More precisely, they connect the functionalities of certain parts of the construction company so that they act as a complete integrated system.

The everyday role of BMS:

• Control of systems and services in buildings

• Graphical user interface (GUI)

• Monitoring the work and performances of the building in real time

• Trends and reporting on the operations and performances of the building

• Time planning of the building system

• Error management and alarming

• Controlling app programming

• Management of user events

• Energy management and reporting (NABERS)

• Lighting control

• HVAC control

• Monitoring the situation in real time

• Bigger management strategies based on peak-loads

• Data on performance trends, improved malfunction detection

• Air quality management (CO2)

• Operating requests after working hours, tenant invoicing

• Error alarming reduces halt times

• Automated notification on replacement of damaged equipment

All this leads to energy savings of 15-20% on an annual level.

Unfortunately, it is still not easy to convince investors and the public to follow these methods. However, it is our responsibility to create energy literacy among the people we know and cooperate with, and we also need to set an example and promote energy savings in our society.

All the technologies mentioned in the article and others have been implemented by Elektrovat on their facilities and therefore everybody interested can visit our facility and witness in person all the benefits of solar panels, BMS, heat pumps and the latest programs for the monitoring and optimization of the abovesaid.

Elektrovat d.o.o. Beograd

AHK Srbija

Elektrovat

German Serbian Chamber of Commerce

energy efficiency

automation

production process management

resource optimization

solar panels

BMS system

renewable energy sources

energy savings

lower electricity bills

ROI

social responsibility

Building Management Systems

special edition newsletter

Green Business An Opportunity to Save