Romania’s Electrica harnesses AI to map its HQ’s energy footprint

Romanian distribution company Electrica is developing an artificial intelligence-based system for real-time monitoring of its headquarters’ energy use.

The system, a first for Romania, involves the development of a set of AI-based algorithms that draw on data from sensors throughout the building to develop energy consumption patterns.

With the project driven by sustainability concerns, Electrica reports, ultimately the aim is to identify effective solutions that can support this.

Alexandru Chiriță, CEO of Electrica, commenting that the project acronym AI-AE sounds like an exclamation of success, said that energy is among the fields that are gaining enormously from AI-interpreted data.

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“We strongly believe that those companies that rely on innovation and effective data collection and interpretation systems will succeed to offer the best products and services. The system we are applying for the first time in our headquarters is another proof of the fact that we respect our commitments and want to be at the forefront of technological developments.”

Electrica is developing the project in partnership with researchers from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and the technology startup Renergia.

In addition to the algorithms, the project involves the creation of a cloud-based infrastructure to collect and store the data and a dashboard tool for easy access to the data.

Electrica also is proposing the creation of a strategy to replicate the solution for the entire heritage of buildings in Romania.

The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca has implemented a building automation laboratory in partnership with the KNX association.

Renergia, which is affiliated with the University, has developed the first mobile sustainable app in Romania that generates a personalised home energy balance sheet and energy efficiency measures for users.