Why an IoT Approach Has Never Been More Relevant for Your Hybrid Energy Product Solutions

Throughout our years of implementation on IoT (internet-of-things) products and solutions at Infinode, we have witnessed a transit from early days of centralised IoT, where a data logger sends raw data to the server (either cloud based or on-premises), and lets the server do the calculation and analysis, to modern day distributed IoT architectures, where edge devices and the server share the tasks of calculation and data analysis. The more cost effective, more powerful MCU (micro control unit) and even MPU (micro processing unit) and edge AI have made edge devices a powerhouse for both sensing, post-processing, communication, and actuation. When these features meet today’s distributed renewable energy transition, every company providing renewable energy solutions might want to explore if they shall update their solutions leveraging the IoT system architectures.

The IoT Architecture (for Hybrid and Distributed Energy)

As former GM IoT head Chris O’Connor once said, the true value of IoT lies not just in connecting devices, but in leveraging the data generated to drive meaningful insights and actions. IoT is not just to collect massive raw data and provide visualisation to end users, but to analyse the data wherever possible, extract insights and take actions upon, or to put it in another way, build intelligence in every layer of the IoT architecture.

Traditional IoT architecture	Modern IoT architecture

For hybrid and distributed energy applications, traditional IoT architecture enables successful stories such as smart meters, solar PV monitors, where the data stream is a one-way route, from sensors to application servers, and to end-users. But we can possibly all agree that today’s hybrid and distributed energy market is more dynamic business-wise. Traditional or top-down IoT architecture is sometimes too simple for the implementation of an application. For example, in Australia, we have several states implementing dynamic export control regulations for the surplus PV generation, which requires an edge-based response mechanism. This edge-based response mechanism will be capable of process the data streams of the edge, communicate with the cloud to synchronize higher level control setpoints and strategies, control the actuators at the edge upon the setpoints and strategies.

This is just one example of where we are heading to manage the grid, distributed renewable energy, energy storage, and the power flow within them. If you think about the demand-side management, the emerging controllable loads such as heat pumps, and various novel business models such as virtual power plant, vehicle to grid, P2P power purchase, the edge is definitely where innovations of hardware/software meet, and new use-cases defined.

Besides, with the benefits of enhanced security, over-the-air firmware upgrade, remote device management and diagnostics, IoT architecture (with an intelligent edge) absolutely worths a consideration for your hybrid and distributed energy applications.

Things to Consider when Implementing an IoT Approach: Cost, Security, and Reliability

Managing the cost, security, and reliability of IoT systems is crucial for ensuring their effectiveness and longevity. Never over-construct your solution to make it too complicated and pricy, while also don’t make it too simple so you won’t be able to scale up. Here's a breakdown of strategies to address each aspect:

1. Cost Management:

• Plan Efficiently: Begin with a thorough analysis of your IoT project requirements and objectives. Identify essential features and prioritize them to optimize costs.

• Choose Scalable Solutions: Select IoT platforms, hardware, and software that allow scalability. This ensures you can expand or contract your IoT infrastructure based on demand, avoiding unnecessary upfront expenses.

• Leverage Mature Platforms: Utilize mature platforms and technologies wherever possible to minimize learning costs. Many robust IoT frameworks, platforms, and libraries are available, reducing deployment and maintenance expenses.

• Remote Device Management and Firmware Upgrade: Design your IoT edge to let them have remote device management and firmware upgrade capabilities, this will reduce your site visits and always keep your system up to date.
  

2. Security:

• Implement Encryption: Utilize encryption protocols such as TLS (Transport Layer Security) for securing data transmission between IoT devices and the cloud or other endpoints.

• Authentication and Authorization: Implement strong authentication mechanisms to ensure only authorized devices and users can access IoT systems. Employ multi-factor authentication where necessary.

• Regular Updates and Patch Management: Keep IoT devices and software updated with the latest security patches to mitigate vulnerabilities. Establish a patch management process to ensure timely updates.

• Data Privacy: Implement data privacy measures to protect sensitive information collected by IoT devices. This includes anonymizing data whenever possible and adhering to relevant privacy regulations like GDPR.

3. Reliability:

• Redundancy: Design IoT systems with redundancy at various levels to ensure continuity of operations in case of failures. This includes redundant power supplies, communication links, and backup servers.

• Remote Monitoring and Maintenance: Implement remote monitoring and management capabilities to detect and address issues proactively. This allows for quick troubleshooting and reduces downtime.

• Quality Assurance Testing: Conduct rigorous testing throughout the development lifecycle to identify and address potential reliability issues early on. This includes stress testing, load testing, and failure simulations.

• Scalable Architecture: Design IoT architectures that can scale seamlessly to accommodate growing workloads and user demands. This ensures reliability even during periods of high usage.

By integrating these strategies into your IoT project planning and implementation, you can effectively manage costs, enhance security, and improve reliability, ensuring the success of your IoT initiatives.

For hybrid and distributed energy product applications, it can never be overstated how important relevant these three factors are, as in most of the cases, hybrid and distributed energy end-users are residential and light C&I users, they rely on the application and solution providers for the IT and OT.

Partner with a Company with Whole-stack Knowledge

Partnering with a company possessing a comprehensive IoT knowledge stack is vital for several reasons:

• End-to-End Solution: A partner company with whole-stack IoT knowledge can offer end-to-end solutions, covering every aspect from device hardware to cloud integration. This ensures seamless integration and functionality across the entire IoT ecosystem.

• Efficiency and Cost-effectiveness: Working with a partner company who understands the entire IoT stack means streamlined development processes and reduced costs. You can focus on your application layer and business pipeline development.

• Interoperability: IoT systems often involve a variety of devices and protocols. A partner with expertise in the entire stack can ensure that all components communicate effectively, leading to better interoperability and a more cohesive system.

• Scalability: As IoT projects grow, scalability becomes crucial. Partnering with a company that understands the entire IoT stack allows for scalable solutions that can easily accommodate increased device deployments, data volumes, and user interactions.

• Security: Security is a major concern in IoT deployments. A partner with comprehensive IoT knowledge can implement robust security measures at every layer of the stack, safeguarding devices, networks, and data from potential threats.

• Innovation and Future-proofing: IoT technology evolves rapidly. Partnering with a company that stays abreast of advancements across the entire stack ensures access to the latest innovations and future-proofs your IoT solution against obsolescence.

• Expert Support: Having a single point of contact for all IoT-related matters simplifies troubleshooting, maintenance, and support. A partner company with deep knowledge of the entire stack can quickly diagnose and resolve issues, minimizing downtime and disruptions.

In essence, partnering with a company possessing whole-stack IoT knowledge empowers organizations to leverage the full potential of IoT technology, from initial concept to ongoing operation, in a more efficient, secure, and scalable manner.

To Conclude

Integration of IoT technology within hybrid energy applications offers transformative potential for the energy sector. Through real-time monitoring, data analysis, and intelligent control, IoT enables the integration and orchestration of renewable sources, storage solutions, and power grid, fostering a more sustainable and resilient energy ecosystem at both the server and the edge side.

With our year experience on IoT, we at Infinode can facilitate you with an IoT enhanced product solution.