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ODVA, Suppliers Form Energy Initiative

ControlDesign.com
02/14/2011

Production planners are finding more reasons to truly understand how and where energy is consumed in their plants, but they don’t necessarily have the tools they need to optimize industrial energy usage. ODVA aims to help with the development of best practices in energy resource allocation, providing a comprehensive approach to energy optimization.

The industrial automation association, in conjunction with major suppliers and association members including Cisco Systems, Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric, has launched a new energy initiative that aims to transform the industrial energy resource allocation model. They hope to develop a comprehensive approach to the optimization of energy usage for the industrial consumer that is scalable, open and inclusive for both users and suppliers. It will simplify the ability to understand energy consumption and enable control methodologies to optimize energy usage.

“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,” says Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA.

Born from an investigation into industry’s energy needs and sustainability objectives, the energy initiative expands on ODVA’s existing efforts. “Rockwell Automation strongly supports ODVA’s focus on energy,” says Randall Selesky, vice president of power and energy at Rockwell Automation. “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.”

To start, ODVA has formed a special interest group to develop specification enhancements for energy applications using the Common Industrial Protocol. The work of the group 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.