IT in Manufacturing


The IIoT powered village

July 2020 IT in Manufacturing

It may be difficult to imagine life without electricity, but in South Africa, rural villages have lacked a reliable source of electricity for a long time. Many villages are not even connected to the power grid because they are so far from any electrical infrastructure, that connecting them would be extremely expensive. Also, with so few users, the revenue generated wouldn’t be able to cover the expenses required for maintenance alone. Unfortunately, this lack of power significantly impedes economic growth, corporate investment, governmental activities, and development for these communities.

The Naledi Trust community in the Free State is a perfect example of this. With only 34 households, economic growth is difficult without reliable power, and unemployed residents wandering the streets can lead to public safety issues. In order to address this, the South African government initially tried installing solar panels for each household. However, this attempt ended in failure. Due to poverty and the high unemployment rate, the solar panels were stolen and sold on the black market. Determined to find a solution, the government initiated a two-year programme to develop an off-grid sustainable power solution for remote villages.

An off-grid power solution would be ideal. It would allow communities to be powered by electricity generated by a centralised local facility rather than relying on a remote power station. This would eliminate the cost of building and maintaining infrastructure to connect to a power grid hundreds of miles away.

This led the government to investigate Chung Hsin Electric & Machinery’s (CHEM) hydrogen fuel cell system. CHEM’s ME2 fuel cell system can generate up to 15 kW of clean energy, and peaks of 70 kW with the support of batteries. This is sufficient to supply power for all 34 households in the community. Additionally, because fuel cell systems are large and can weigh over 300 kg, theft of the system would be difficult.

Two challenges remained. First, operation and maintenance costs would be high. Second, the initial investment cost would be high, especially when compared to traditional diesel generators. To overcome these, CHEM partnered with Moxa to augment the system with IIoT capabilities, transforming both CHEM’s fuel system and its business model.

Reducing operation and maintenance costs

In order to ensure reliable, 24/7 access to electricity, regular deliveries of methanol fuel would be required. Additionally, the system would be installed in a harsh outdoor environment and would need regular inspections. Due to the remote nature of the community, the costs of fuel delivery and site visits would be high.

Adding IIoT capabilities to CHEM’s fuel cell system turned the situation around. By integrating Moxa’s cellular remote I/O solution, real-time operational data could be sent to a control centre. This allowed for detection of low fuel levels, which helped CHEM optimise the logistics of fuel delivery. Also, remote maintenance was now a possibility. System status could be monitored at any time, and basic issues could be resolved remotely. Maintenance personnel would only need to make site visits when necessary. Empowering the system with IIoT capabilities resulted in a 50% reduction in deployment and maintenance costs.

Reducing initial investment costs

As a clean energy source, fuel cell systems have a much higher cost compared to diesel generators, which can act as a barrier to entry for many customers. But, once the system is enabled with IIoT connectivity, usage can be monitored remotely. Data on power consumption, voltage, ambient conditions, power supply operating time, fuel levels, and more, can be accurately tracked from a control centre. “The IIoT is transforming our business model,” says Amy Liao, director of the Hydrogen Department at CHEM. “We are transitioning from selling a product to offering Machines-as-a-Service. Through this business model, CHEM can now established long-term business relationships where it charged for actual power consumed, rather than for sale of the system itself. Eliminating this barrier to entry gives the company access to a much larger customer pool, and new revenue streams.”

The lives of people living in the Naledi Trust community have been transformed. Reliable power brings new commercial and economic activity, and education and government services can keep running. “It’s my sincere wish that our IIoT solutions bring light to all the remote villages in the world, changing it for the better,” concludes Eddy Lin, general manager of Moxa’s Intelligence Business Group.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Optimising the product design process
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
OPmobility is partnering with Siemens to adopt its Teamcenter X Product Lifecycle Management software. OPmobility’s increasingly complex products now include electronics and software, to create energy storage systems, which include battery and hydrogen electrification solutions and fuel tanks.

Read more...
Smart milling for resilient, sustainable food production
IT in Manufacturing
As the global demand for food continues to rise due to increasing urbanisation, the milling industry faces the challenge of balancing efficiency with sustainability. Bühler is committed to making milling more energy-efficient while maintaining high operational performance. Its solutions allow mills to reduce energy costs and ensure long-term sustainability.

Read more...
The evolving landscape of data centres in the age of AI
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The data centre industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven primarily by the explosive growth of AI. It’s clear that the demands of AI are reshaping the very foundations of data infrastructure. This isn’t merely about incremental upgrades; it’s a fundamental shift in how we design, power and operate these critical facilities.

Read more...
SA Food Review
IT in Manufacturing
Food Review is a monthly trade journal for South Africa’s food and beverage manufacturing industry, for industry professionals seeking detailed information on trends, technologies, best practices and innovations.

Read more...
Keeping an eye on oil consumption with moneo
ifm - South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies in the metal industry need oils and other fluids that are consumed by their machines. To make this consumption transparent and to establish a link to the ERP system, Arnold Umformtechnik relies on the IIoT platform, moneo, in combination with the SAP-based software solution Shop Floor Integration (SFI) – both from ifm.

Read more...
AI accelerates energy transformation
RJ Connect IT in Manufacturing
With the rapid expansion of generative AI applications, data centre power demand is reaching unprecedented levels.

Read more...
Revolutionising mining operations with MineOptimize
IT in Manufacturing
Now more than ever, mining and mineral processing companies need to boost productivity, ensure safety, and protect the environment. ABB’s comprehensive electrification, automation and digital solutions portfolio is ideally positioned to meet these challenges across all mining processes, from mine to port, transforming performance in a digital world.

Read more...
Buildings in Africa’s urban evolution
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Africa is now an urban continent. How does the continent mobilise to accommodate urban dwellers and maintain and implement critical infrastructure that allows for this expansion? Building management systems provide a tangible solution to optimise resource use, lower operations costs and ultimately contribute to a growing continent that also employs green practices.

Read more...
TwinCAT Vision functionality extended
Beckhoff Automation IT in Manufacturing
The image processing and camera integration capabilities of Beckhoff’s TwinCAT 3 Vision software have been expanded.

Read more...
Automation software to future-proof your operations
Adroit Technologies IT in Manufacturing
As the official partner of Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation, Adroit Technologies empowers businesses with cutting-edge solutions that reduce costs, improve quality and increase productivity.

Read more...