Energy prices also increase the pressure to act: if you don’t save now, you risk financial bottlenecks and production downtime. Small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in particular are therefore looking for ways to set up their production in a sustainable, resource-saving and energy self-sufficient manner.
A practical and inexpensive solution is the combination of photovoltaics (PV) and KNX. The technologies can be easily integrated into existing systems and gradually expanded. In this way, even SMEs can reduce their costs in the long term without any effort or loss of flexibility. Interested companies and electricians can find out everything they need to know in this guide.
Solar and KNX – a smart combination for energy-conscious companies
Saving energy and independence from electricity prices are what many players in the manufacturing industry want. Against the background of the current price explosions for electricity and gas, tight supply chains and an imminent recession, small and medium-sized companies in particular are now increasingly under pressure. If they want to keep their sales stable in the long term, they have to reduce their energy expenditure.
As early as 2021, i.e. before the war in Ukraine and rising inflation, more than a third of them were already planning to invest in energy-saving measures over the next five years. This was the result of a survey of 600 decision-makers for building management in SMEs. Most of them (54 percent) want to make energy-saving renovations and thus save energy (36 percent) and support climate protection (30 percent).
After LED comes PV
However, many savings potentials have long been exhausted – companies have often already converted the hall lighting to LED. What’s next? The topic of solar is currently exciting for private households. With the abolition of the EEG surcharge, PV technology is also moving back into the focus of manufacturing companies – especially those who have large roof areas on their production halls.Photovoltaics are even more efficient when combined with energy storage and the entire system is controlled intelligently. The KNX protocol takes over the task of building automation and control of energy generators. This creates a smart and centrally controllable energy solution that secures potential savings today and in the future.
Why should companies use KNX as a protocol for energy management?
Energy management based on KNX enables companies to design their energy supply according to their needs. Within office buildings or production facilities, KNX ensures optimized use of energy and harmonises generation, storage and consumption.
KNX stands for Konnex Bus. This is based on a bus system standard for building automation. Put simply, KNX is the language that intelligent devices use to communicate with each other within a building. This can be used to automate private and commercial buildings in order to create more comfort and security for residents and users and to reduce energy consumption.
The technology also offers numerous advantages to companies in manufacturing or operators of office buildings:
- The KNX standard is recognized worldwide and is used by many electricians.
- KNX connects trades in a cost-effective manner and enables them to be tailored to the specific requirements of builders or building operators.
- More than 500 manufacturers offer over 8,000 products that are compatible with KNX.
- Flexible options and suitable products are available with KNX for the implementation of energy-saving solutions in the commercial or private sector.
- The standard is constantly being further developed. Investing in KNX means investing in the future.
What possibilities does the combination of photovoltaics and KNX offer?
Companies that want to become less dependent on their electricity provider can easily install a photovoltaic system on the roof of their office building or production hall. If you want to optimize energy efficiency, you should proceed intelligently.
Increase energy efficiency with storage and KNX
Electricity storage is cheaper today than it was a few years ago. Connected to the PV system, an energy storage device prevents even one kilowatt hour of electricity from being lost. The challenge here: The system must be intelligently networked with the energy consumers in the company, in production or in the building and be easy to control. Because only with smart energy management can energy saving potential be leveraged.
If the solar system harvests a particularly large amount of PV electricity, this should either be used immediately or stored. This is where KNX comes into play: Integrated into the building management system, the protocol regulates automatically and smartly that the generated energy always arrives where it is needed or ends up in the storage.
For whom is energy management via KNX worthwhile?
The combination of KNX and PV is worthwhile for all companies that finally want to optimize the energy use of their buildings and make them more self-sufficient with the help of solar energy. If they previously had no overview of their consumption, for example because they are not required to have ISO 50001 certification, with KNX they finally get transparency about the use and generation of energy in the company and achieve intelligent consumer control.The use of KNX and PV is also worthwhile for companies that are building a new production hall or a new office building and want to rely on modern technology for building automation right from the start. In both cases, electricians are important contacts. With their know-how, they help to select the right components.
Installers can not only support companies with photovoltaics and KNX in saving energy. They also provide private customers with incentives to modernize their homes in the long term and thus increase the value of the building. Owners of single-family homes can easily equip their home with the KNX protocol for the future and are less dependent on the development of energy prices.
The most important advantages for companies at a glance
Companies that take energy-saving measures not only reduce their expenses in the long term. You also benefit from a positive image as a sustainable manufacturing company. And they can confidently communicate this to customers and applicants.
Those who switch to networked building and energy management today and use the KNX protocol as a basis are also prepared for the future:
- KNX is scalable: in addition to PV systems, other renewable energy systems and additional energy storage devices can also be connected to expand the storage capacity.
- KNX is future-proof: trends such as electromobility can be effortlessly integrated into existing processes with an intelligent KNX system.
- KNX is flexible: whether new construction or retrofitting, commercial or private – the KNX protocol can be used in both existing and planned buildings.
- KNX is versatile: In addition to energy management, the KNX protocol can also be used to intelligently network and control other tasks in the building, such as lighting concepts, sun and weather protection, air conditioning or access control
Using KNX and photovoltaics in the company: This is how it works
A survey by reichelt elektronik of more than 1,000 companies in Europe revealed: 28 percent of those surveyed see the complexity of measures as the greatest hurdle for their energy saving plans. With KNX and the right components, it is very easy to achieve great things, even in smaller companies.
KNX not only simplifies the setup of an energy system, but also operation. Because the central control and the transparency of consumption ensure a high level of operating convenience.
What do companies need to save energy?
For energy management, companies need know-how and suitable accessories for building automation and energy generation and storage. Electricians with KNX experience have the necessary knowledge about the protocol. You can find the hardware for your project at reichelt elektronik.
KNX solutions are tailor-made – because no building is like the other. The individual requirements of companies or private households are therefore decisive for the selection of components. In office buildings, for example, it can be sufficient to control the energy and building management via the KNX protocol. In a production, on the other hand, it makes sense to connect KNX and SPS.
When dimensioning the energy system, the energy requirement, the budget and the areas available for the PV modules naturally also play a role. The battery storage should also not be too large. Because too little utilization accelerates the aging process of the battery and makes the system unprofitable.
Which PV and KNX components do companies need to save energy?
In order for companies to be able to implement a sustainable energy solution for their office building or production hall, they need solar panels, inverters and, if necessary, energy storage devices as well as KNX controllers, sensors and actuators. It is important that all components of the energy solution are compatible.
In the reichelt elektronik shop, fitters can get everything they need from a single source and find the right components for the required application. They benefit from attractive prices and usually don’t lose any time. Because many products are in stock and available quickly. In addition to an extensive range of KNX components such as actuators, installers will also find storage units and inverters in the shop.
Solar hybrid inverter with smart meter
The Growatt GW SPH10000TL3 inverter offers high performance for small to medium-sized solar systems and is compatible with energy storage. Simple commissioning and intuitive operation via touch display ensure that the inverter is quickly ready for use.Expandable solar storage
The high-voltage solar storage system GW ARK 10.2 SPH can be combined with the Growatt inverter. It is possible to start with a storage capacity of 5.12 kWh and gradually expand the energy system up to 25.6 kWh. Thanks to plug-and-play, the expansion is done in no time at all.
KNX offers these 5 advantages in combination with photovoltaics
- With an energy system based on KNX, companies can overcome the hurdle of complexity in energy management and can use solar and storage energy efficiently, intelligently and safely without any effort.
- KNX solutions can be installed quickly and easily.
- The KNX protocol increases the ease of use of the PV system – an important argument for electricians who would like to recommend KNX to their customers and for companies who want to offer their employees an intuitive energy-saving system.
- A KNX-based PV solution is not only suitable for new industrial buildings – existing systems can also be retrofitted without affecting production.
- PV systems that are connected to production or building technology with KNX can easily be expanded to include energy storage – companies can not only save energy in this way, but also store it and thus increase their degree of self-sufficiency.
It pays to save energy – especially with KNX
In addition to the financial advantages, the KNX technology also scores with convenience in control, transparency regarding energy requirements and consumption, and flexibility in the construction and expansion of the energy solution. With KNX and components from reichelt elektronik, companies finally have the opportunity to use the advantages of renewable energies quickly and efficiently and, in connection with energy storage, to significantly increase their degree of self-sufficiency in energy use.
Images: Adobe Stock, Schneider Electric
