A generic approach to integrating energy related data

Abstract

The energy management processes of mines and industrial plants differ because of the specialised processes used for mining or production. Therefore, energy management systems typically provide users with specialised tools and reports to facilitate the ongoing energy management process. However, an energy management system that does not consider energy related data does not provide a comprehensive cross-industry solution. A system that is capable of comparing energy data with related data such as production, budget and cost data presents further opportunities for comprehensive energy management. The logistics of data retrieval and management from a wide variety of data sources is, however, problematic because of diverse data formats and modes of access. These data sources range from databases to document based reports and accounts. Energy personnel on different authority levels require access to different data to fulfil their specific role in the energy management process. Furthermore, individual energy personnel have their own preferences regarding the type and graphical representation of data. Therefore, this paper presents a generic approach to integrating data required for comprehensive energy management. The results obtained from practical implementations also proved the approach's adherence to the requirements of different industries. These initial implementations only included electrical energy and related data, while future implementations will include data for other energy sources.