First Romanian Company to Use AI for Energy Footprinting of Its Headquarters
Electrica registers a premiere for Romania, by implementing a system of artificial intelligence algorithms that will have the ability to identify in real time the energy footprint of the main receivers in the headquarters, as part of an indirect monitoring process.
The full name of the project is ‘Development of artificial intelligence algorithms and advanced numerical methods for real-time energy footprinting of main receivers in a commercial building’, with the acronym AI-AE. It consists in the development of algorithms based on artificial intelligence, which will coordinate a set of advanced numerical methods, with the aim of real-time detection of the main electricity consumers in the company’s headquarters.
The initiative comes as a result of a constant commitment to identifying efficient solutions to support sustainability efforts. Subsequently, Electrica aims to create a strategy for replicating the solution across its entire building portfolio.
“Energy is among the fields that have enormously to gain from the interpretation of data collected with the help of artificial intelligence. We strongly believe that those companies that rely on innovation and effective data collection and interpretation systems will succeed in offering the best products and services. The system that we are going to apply for the first time in our headquarters, with the acronym AI-AE, is yet another proof that we keep our commitments and want to be at the forefront of technological developments,” said Alexandru Chirita, CEO of Electrica.
Developed together with researchers from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and the Renergia startup, the AI-AE system uses measurement sensors throughout the building and an intelligent monitoring system. Information about energy consumption will be processed using algorithms that will take into account the recorded consumption patterns. In addition, the project also involves the creation of a cloud infrastructure for the collection and storage of consumer data.
“The project will also generate a dashboard tool for easy access to the information obtained following the application of the developed methodology, in the form of a web platform. It will give our partners from Electrica the opportunity to visualize in real time the energy consumption segregated according to the categories of receivers, but also to automatically generate recommendations for the efficiency of energy consumption. We are happy to be part of this unique initiative in Romania and we also thank all those involved for the trust given to them,” added Prof. Univ. Dr. Eng. Vasile Topa, rector of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca.
“This partnership represents an essential catalytic factor for the advancement and consolidation of the innovation ecosystem in Romania. We are pleased to participate in an initiative that addresses a current issue and whose final result will generate a significant positive impact on the environment,” stated the coordinators of the Cluj startup, Dr. Eng. Alexandru Muresan and Dr. Eng. Dacian Jurj.
Renergia is a technology startup affiliated with the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, which developed the first sustainability mobile application in Romania. Using probabilistic, statistical, and artificial intelligence techniques combined with energy expertise, Renergia generates a personalized energy balance sheet for homes. This innovative tool estimates electricity and heat consumption while generating energy efficiency measures for users.
About Electrica
Electrica Group is a key player in the electricity supply, distribution, and production market in Romania, as well as one of the most important players in the energy services sector.
Electrica Group provides services to about 3.9 million users and has national coverage – with a coverage of 18 counties from three geographical areas for the distribution of electricity: Northern Transylvania, Southern Transylvania, Northern Muntenia, and across the country for the supply of electricity and for energy maintenance and services.
As of July 2014, Electrica has become a company with private majority capital, listed on the Bucharest and London stock exchanges. Electrica is the only listed Romanian company in the field of electricity distribution and supply in Romania.
