Optimizing Production and Slashing Emissions: Edgecom Energy's CoPilot ??

We recently won ABB’s startup challenge, and many people have been asking me: What is this project about, and how impactful will it be on the energy management space? I’d like to break down what it means for Edgecom Energy , what we’re building, and why.

Introducing Our AI-Powered Energy Management Co-Pilot

Simply, we’re developing a production load scheduler—an AI-powered co-pilot—that enables manufacturing facilities to plan ahead around energy prices and optimize their production schedules. This tool aims to minimize energy costs and emissions while maximizing operational efficiency.

Why Is This Important?

As we transition towards renewable energy sources like wind and solar, we’re facing a new challenge: these sources are intermittent and less controllable than traditional fossil fuels. This means we can’t easily adjust electricity supply to meet demand spikes during peak times. To keep the grid stable and ensure there’s always enough power when we need it, we have to manage the demand side instead.

Peak management programs encourage facilities to reduce or shift their electricity use during high-demand periods. These programs are becoming more common worldwide as we rely more on renewable energy and need new ways to balance the grid. In fact, it’s estimated that investing $21.4 trillion will be required to upgrade the grid infrastructure to support this transition (source) and Demand Side programs like peak management and Demand Response will have a huge role to play.

The Reality for Facilities

In large, complex energy systems with full SCADA control and extensive automation, companies often have dedicated energy teams or consultants to optimize energy usage. However, not every facility can afford or needs that level of expertise.

Imagine a smaller energy consumer—like an injection molding facility producing food containers. They might have 30 injection molding machines, EV charging stations, chillers, air compressors, and HVAC systems. The VP of Operations or Maintenance Manager, whose primary job is to ensure smooth operations, now has to contend with managing energy bills, understanding peak programs, and considering sustainable energy sources.

Enter Our Gen-AI and Our Co-Pilot

This is where our AI-powered co-pilot comes into play. Imagine a tool that’s connected to all the critical information needed to create an optimized load profile:

1. Understanding Energy Consumption Trends: It gathers real-time energy data and historical consumption patterns within the facility.

2. Facility Constraints and Operational Needs: It understands the specific constraints of the facility—like production deadlines, equipment maintenance, and operational flexibility. It allows human operators to input concerns and priorities for the day or week. The chatbot interface makes it easy for the operators to "inform" the copilot about specific issues, concerns or priorities that would change the load schedule.

3. Access to Production Data: It integrates with production schedules, either through direct connections to ERP systems or simple uploads like Excel files.

4. Grid Programs and Market Data: It stays updated on energy tariffs, demand response programs, real-time energy prices, and forecasts over the scheduling horizon.

With this information, the co-pilot creates a custom load schedule that minimizes costs and Scope 2 emissions while optimizing production output.

A Practical Example

Let’s revisit our injection molding facility. The AI co-pilot connects to the production data, knows the energy price projections for the coming week, and is aware of the facility’s peak demands. It can answer questions like:

“How much money can I save on energy this week if I optimize production for energy costs, given I need to produce 400,000 units?”

The co-pilot provides a detailed Gantt chart detailing which production lines should run at specific times, when the EVs should be charged, and optimal setpoints for HVAC systems. It might reveal that by following this optimized schedule, the facility can produce the required units while saving $25,000 in energy costs and reducing CO? emissions by 2,300 kg.

Simplifying Complexity

In regions like Ontario, energy consumers have to consider multiple variables—HOEP, Global Adjustment, Transmission charges—each with different billing structures based on when and how much energy is consumed. Add demand response programs into the mix, and it becomes clear why facilities need smart solutions to navigate this complexity.

But Ontario is at the forefront of this and world-wide, more and more ISO's and LDCs are coming up with creative, peak based pricing schemes. This is an opportunity and a challenge for energy intense industries of all sizes.

Our AI-powered co-pilot simplifies this challenge by providing clear, actionable insights without the need for a team of engineers. It empowers facilities of all sizes to make data-driven decisions that align with their operational goals and sustainability targets.

Why Edgecom Energy Is Uniquely Positioned to Build This

At Edgecom Energy, we have a deep understanding of the energy ecosystem and extensive experience with grid data and energy markets. Our expertise in integrating diverse data sources and transforming complex energy information into actionable strategies sets us apart. We’ve built robust platforms that connect real-time energy data, market forecasts, and facility operations. This unique combination of skills allows us to create solutions that not only address today’s challenges but also anticipate the future needs of a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

BTW - Our Co-Pilot Is Active and Evolving

We’re actively adding new features to enhance its capabilities and better serve our clients’ needs. You can learn more about it on our website: Edgecom Energy AI Co-Pilot. This tool is designed to be intuitive and powerful, providing immediate value to facilities looking to optimize their energy usage without the need for extensive expertise or resources.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Energy Management

We’re excited about the potential of this technology to transform how facilities manage energy consumption. If you’re a production manager, energy manager, facility operator, or an investor interested in sustainable energy solutions, we’d love to connect with you at Edgecom Energy .