ISQ HELPS OPTIMIZE ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
ISQ is part of the simoce national project that aims to investigate and develop an intelligent system for monitoring and optimizing energy consumption in the residential sector, namely at the level of equipment such as appliances, lighting and heating systems. This enables, through a smart grid (AI), to reduce costs and improve energy management with the final consumer. ISQ's activities in relation to this project are mainly linked to the energy audit of the SIMOCE demonstrator building – located in Maia – thermal comfort assessment, measurement plan, savings verification and prototype validation. "One of the priorities of the national energy and climate plan for 2030 is the focus on the final consumer and behavioral change. Artificial intelligence associated with energy management and autonomous energy production is one of the keys to the success of this strategy. ISQ, with the accumulated experience of hundreds of energy audits carried out in the housing sector, brings together the necessary skills that will allow the development of intelligent energy management systems", stresses João Crespo, director of Integrated Engineering Solutions (SIE). As part of this project, ISQ will also develop innovative concepts focused on needs – current and future – highlighting the management of energy consumption with the microproduction of energy, the use of electric and hybrid vehicles and the implementation of energy reduction programs in which the consumer has an active role, with a greater balance between the energy supplied and the consumed, that is, Demand Response. The solution will be based on three main components to be investigated, developed and integrated: a) sensors, measuring devices and other devices and equipment associated with data acquisition b) middleware/gateways to which all installed devices and other existing equipment in the context to be monitored and optimized c) all artificial intelligence related to processing will be connected, optimization and decision of the system. It should be noted that the European Union has been drawing attention to energy policy. Citizens are at the heart of the concerns and the need to be able to take advantage of new technologies to reduce energy bills and actively participate in the market is highlighted.