ODVA members collaborate to optimise energy usage for the industrial sector

31 March 2011

ODVA has launched a new energy initiative, in cooperation with suppliers including Cisco Systems, Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric.

The aim is to develop a comprehensive approach to the optimisation of energy usage for the industrial consumer that is scalable, open and inclusive for both users and suppliers. ODVA says that this energy approach will simplify the ability to understand energy consumption and enable control methodologies to optimize energy usage throughout the industrial ecosystem from the plantfloor to the grid.

Although understanding energy consumption is critical to truly optimising plantwide operations, production planners have not had all the necessary tools. ODVA seeks to change this by fostering best practices in energy resource allocation, including visibility of energy data throughout the layers of the production information systems.

"The starting point for ODVA's energy initiative is to ensure that energy data can be seen throughout the production domain in order to empower industrial consumers with the energy information they need to solve their energy consumption and efficiency problems in a holistic manner," said Katherine Voss, executive director, ODVA.

Randall Selesky, vice president of Power and Energy from Rockwell Automation, a principal and founding member of ODVA, said: "Rockwell Automation strongly supports ODVA's focus on energy. We believe the initiative will accelerate industry's opportunity to successfully implement innovations in energy control and management and, as a result, boost profitability and promote responsible energy usage."

Chet Namboodri, global director of Manufacturing Industry Solutions and Marketing for Cisco Systems, another principal member of ODVA, added: "The addition of energy to ODVA's automation portfolio dovetails perfectly with Cisco's Industrial Automation market initiative and industrial intelligence solutions, which enable businesses to improve productivity, process and profits while enhancing sustainability to benefit people and the environment through better utilization of resources."

Fred Cohn, director of Network Strategy for Industry Business at Schneider Electric, another principal member of ODVA concluded: "Schneider Electric supports active energy efficiency by enabling customers to optimize energy use with monitoring and control. We believe that our solution for industrial consumers will be enhanced by ODVA's efforts to broaden EtherNet/IP to provide energy awareness and improved management capabilities."

As the first action in its Energy initiative, ODVA has formed a special
nterest group (SIG) to develop specification enhancements for energy
applications utilizing the Common Industrial Protocol. The work of the SIG
will focus on developing energy parameters, objects and services for energy
optimization. Initial enhancements of the ODVA specifications are expected
to be available in 2012.