What is Decarbonization and “ESG”?
Decarbonization and energy efficiency, put simply, is the process of cutting carbon emissions and moving towards carbon neutrality by transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. It’s a key focus of many sustainability goals, especially within the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework that’s becoming widely adopted.
Governments and organizations around the world are implementing ESG and decarbonization plans. For instance, Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 outlines four key strategies: net-zero electricity generation, energy efficiency and green buildings, green transport, and waste reduction—all aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
What Does This Mean for OT Network Managers?
In short, a lot. OT management teams are mainly tasked with achieving the first pillar (energy efficiency) of what the Clean Energy Transition Institute calls the “five pillars of decarbonization,” which also includes clean electricity, electrification, clean fuels, and carbon capture.
In particular, OT network techs are being mandated to measure and improve how energy is used, reducing waste in physical systems like HVAC and industrial processes. This will have a significant long-term impact on the way OT networks are designed and implemented.
New Standards are Driving Smart Automation Adoption
The introduction of corporate ESG standards is one of the chief forces driving the adoption of smart automation systems into previously non-automated environments. Building services, like HVAC and lighting, are some of the largest consumers of energy for any commercial building. From skyscrapers to campuses spread out over acres, the systems that run our buildings require a lot of constant power. For years, ensuring those systems had constant power was the only basis of measurement for success.
Today, expectations are much higher. As we strive for more efficient energy use, nothing is left unmeasured. Simple questions like “Is it on?” have evolved into more thoughtful ones like “Does it need to be on?”
The way to get those answers, it turns out, runs right through an OT network.
Powered by OT networking, and fed real-time data by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, major manufacturers in the building automation space are already creating products dedicated to tracking and improving energy efficiency. For example, Honeywell’s Smart Energy range of products, and IMB’s Envizi decarbonization software.
Building systems—such as HVAC, lighting, and security—are now being re-engineered to monitor and analyze their energy use. Supported by modern OT networks, these systems are optimized to boost energy performance and reduce waste, making a meaningful impact on decarbonization goals.
Integration of Renewable Energy
Another critical component of decarbonization is the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs)—renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines. With big footprints and a variety of distribution networks already in place, settings like university campuses are perfect candidates for DER integration. Since 2018, Sichuan University has been testing a series of microgrids fed by solar power.
This means OT networks will need to be expanded and upgraded to manage these DERs efficiently. Facilities leveraging OT networks to connect with DERs can optimize energy production and consumption, enabling better energy storage and distribution while keeping emissions low.
How Are OT Networks Evolving to Achieve a Decarbonization Mandate?
Energy-Efficient Equipment, Enabled by a Modern OT Network
A key solution in implementing any decarbonization plan is going to be the replacement of old, energy-inefficient systems with modern, energy-efficient alternatives such as LED lighting, variable frequency drives (VFDs) for motors, and high-efficiency HVAC units. These modern systems are designed to be far more programmable and tailored to the environment they’re placed in. But that level of customization will require extremely precise measurements and control parameters.
Advanced energy management platforms like Schneider Electric’s PowerLogic and Wattsense IoT energy monitoring devices utilize OT networks to deliver real-time data and analytics, enabling fine-tuned adjustments for peak efficiency. This level of oversight means that even minor inefficiencies are caught and corrected, which translates into significant energy savings over time.
That means modern and optimized IP-based OT networks are going to be crucial for monitoring these systems, allowing them to operate optimally and respond in real time to improve decarbonization and energy efficiency.
Granular Control Through Real-Time Data
With a network that’s been modernized to enable real-time data, Building Automation Systems themselves can execute far more granular control over the OT devices operating the physical equipment. By leveraging the real-time data collected, and processing it through optimization algorithms to adjust settings based on factors such as occupancy, time of day, and even weather patterns, systems are further optimized over time to continue reducing a building’s overall energy consumption.
For example, in a large commercial building, a BAS integrated with the OT network can automatically adjust the HVAC system when spaces are unoccupied or when external temperatures rise. By responding to these environmental and operational cues, these systems significantly reduce energy waste and optimize consumption, which translates into fewer carbon emissions. Smart lighting, similarly, adjusts according to occupancy or natural light levels, ensuring lights are only in use when needed.
OT networks integrated with advanced energy management systems can detect when energy consumption spikes beyond normal thresholds and automatically adjust equipment to maintain optimal performance. They also provide insights into which systems or processes are consuming the most energy, enabling facilities to prioritize upgrades or implement more efficient strategies.
Facilities managers no longer have to wait for monthly energy audits or estimates to make changes. Instead, real-time visibility means they can respond immediately to inefficiencies or opportunities for energy reduction, ensuring continuous alignment with sustainability goals.
This real-time data collection ensures that facilities can continuously monitor their carbon footprint and make proactive decisions that reduce emissions.
Preventative Maintenance
Decarbonization efforts depend on accurate, real-time data to ensure that sustainability metrics are met. OT networks provide the backbone for continuous monitoring, and that means placing a high value on the availability (to support real-time data flows) and integrity (to support the accuracy of the data collected) of your OT network. Quarterly or bi-annual diagnostics aren’t going to cut it anymore. Moving to a routine of much more regular diagnostics and servicing ensures that nothing is getting missed. In an environment of high demands like real-time analytics, why not consider real-time monitoring and maintenance?
By regularly analyzing the performance of OT equipment, facilities managers and systems integrators can not only ensure networks designed to optimize energy use are operating properly, but they anticipate and prevent equipment failures of the network itself This not only ensures equipment longevity but also prevents energy waste, contributing to decarbonization targets.
High-Performance OT Networks Need High-Performance Support
This kind of performance demands an OT network at peak performance level all the time. With the speed and traffic requirements of more advanced IP networks, a constellation of IoT devices to support, and unquestionably reliable reporting data, maintaining network health has become a far more important factor than ever in OT environments.
For that, you need network monitoring and management software built to keep you on top of issues long before they become potential emergencies. With OptigoVN, you can instantly assess your network health and pinpoint BACnet issues down to the device in seconds. No more manual decoding of packet captures, climbing ladders, or splitting networks. Take back your time from low-level tasks and move into a routine of preventive maintenance rather than a break/fix model.
Ready to see what OptigoVN can do for your OT network? Contact us to schedule a demo or sign up for a free account to explore on your own today.
