RTE advocated on Wednesday, December 7, for the “massive” deployment of connected and intelligent installations, for the control of heating or lighting in particular, to reduce electricity consumption and react better in case of tension in the network.
“Solutions exist”, stressed the president of the board of directors of the manager of the electricity transmission network in France, Xavier Piechaczyk, considering that the “collective challenge” now involves “the massive and rapid deployment” of these technologies.
Specially directed private housing
Only 6% of tertiary buildings (offices or shops) of more than 1,000 m² in France are equipped with functional and recent management tools for ventilation, heating or lighting. Regarding private housing, 12% used management or programming solutions in 2018.
However, on a winter day, these buildings represent “more than 70%” of French electricity consumption, according to RTE, which notes that they could represent a crucial lever in the event of tensions in the network and Ecowatt alert.
Smart systems -connected plugs, thermostats or heaters- allow considerable savings, RTE said during a press conference, along with manufacturers’ federations Gimelec and Ignes that offer energy management tools.
Automated consumption with Ecowatt
For tertiary buildings, energy consumption goes from 300 kilowatt hours per square meter per year to 180 kWh/m² with the simple installation of centralized management tools, explained Laurent Bataille, president of Gimelec and the Schneider Electric France group.
RTE now expects more and more buildings to automate their consumption according to Ecowatt alerts thanks to home automation installations, which will lower the temperature or change heating schedules.
A trial carried out by RTE in four buildings, including its own headquarters, suggests a potential reduction in consumption by one third with reduced ventilation, the immobilization of certain lifts or lighting cuts.
Source: BFM TV
