What is the Difference Between Power Management and Energy Management
There was an article about critical power buildings that mentioned Kevin Morin, who is in charge of Schneider Electric’s Critical Power EcoXpert certification badge. He said that power management systems keep track of a building’s energy performance and give important information about power distribution parameters, both in real time and over time to see patterns and trends.
What is an EMS system? (Energy Management System)
An Energy Management System (EMS) is a sophisticated electronic device that is intended to optimize, control, and monitor energy consumption in a variety of applications. It employs software algorithms and sensors to analyze energy consumption patterns, identify inefficiencies, and implement strategies to reduce energy waste. An EMS is essential in the context of batteries, as it regulates the charging and discharging processes, thereby ensuring optimal performance, extending the durability of the battery, and improving overall energy efficiency.
What is a BMS system? (Battery Management System)
A BMS, or Battery Management System, is necessary for electric cars and devices that run on batteries. It checks things like voltage, current, temperature, and state of charge to make sure the battery is safe, healthy, and working well. The BMS makes sure that charging is balanced, stops charging or discharging too much, and protects against possible dangers like thermal runaway. The BMS makes the best use of the battery, extends its life, and ensures reliable use in a wide range of situations.
The different purposes of power management and energy management
“A power management system,” he explained, is a set of power meters, power management software, and equipment to improve the quality of the power.
From a purpose point of view, power management is mostly about making electricity more reliable or available.Critical power buildings need power that is available, reliable, of good quality, and easy to manage.
So, what is energy management? Energy management is more about saving money and analyzing all the energy-related parts of a building’s power distribution systems with the goal of saving money and making the building more energy efficient.
The BEMS market is also driven by the desire to save money. However, the role of building management systems and the options for critical power buildings are changing because of the Internet of Things.
If the main goal of power management is to make sure that power or electricity is always on and available, and the main goal of energy management is, among other things, to save money, how do these two goals affect each other, if at all?
With the changes we see in different markets, aren’t they both growing toward each other? When do they go together, and can that make one or both of the fields less effective?
Conclusion
Power and energy management are two distinct but related concepts that are critical for optimizing energy utilization and operational efficiency. Power management is the process of controlling and regulating a system’s power distribution and consumption. In contrast, energy management considers the entire energy ecosystem. Energy Management Systems (EMS) offer organizations comprehensive frameworks for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing energy consumption. At the same time, Battery Management Systems (BMS) focus on monitoring, controlling, and protecting the performance of rechargeable batteries.
