There is increasing adoption of IoT-enabled smart switchgear: Havells India
- November 24, 2022
In this exclusive interview, we have Vivek Yadav, Executive Vice President, Havells India, giving insights into emerging technological trends in the traditional switchgear industry. While safety of equipment and human life is the prime function of a switchgear device, Yadav explains how modern IoT-based switchgear is blending with power distribution systems, thereby offering even more functionalities. On its part, the entire switchgear range of Havells India ensures maximum safety standards and resource efficiency, asserts Vivek Yadav.
As we recall, the switchgear business of Havells India had grown by 38 per cent in Q1 (April to June) of FY23. What is the indicative performance in Q2 and therefore H1 of FY23?
Havells Switchgears business grew by 10 per cent to Rs.488 crore in Q2FY23 as against Rs.443 crore in the corresponding quarter previous year. It would not be fair to compare it against Q1 growth as that was on a low base due to COVID in Q1 last year. Infrastructure and real estate sector showed consistent demand trend which has supported the growth in switchgear category, particularly the final distribution segment. Public private partnership-lead projects and telecom infrastructure development is a promising development which will fuel greater demand in coming months. However, end consumer buying is reflecting negative trend, which we expect to improve by end of year.
When one thinks of switchgear, one immediately pictures “safety”. Tell us how innovation is complementing the safety aspect of switchgear?
Havells offers technologically advanced range of products in the switchgear segment – circuit breakers, earth leakage protection and surge protection. Havells is pioneer in understanding the changing customer requirement and filling the vacuum with well though through advanced products. A relatively new step in ensuring safety involves assessing how likely the system is to have a catastrophic fault.
Innovative indigenous protection devices have been designed that can be installed to detect the arc and disconnect the relevant supply immediately, protecting equipment and personnel. We have introduced downstream protection devices for protection from leakage current and voltage surge, reflecting our customer first approach. These devices make sure user get much needed circuit protection at socket level.
Tell us about the safety aspect of your latest switchgear launch, which we understand is smart technology based.
Yes, the latest offering from Havells switchgear – ST^Dx — is an intuitive and performance-driven innovative protection device. Its indigenous smart design ensures user-friendliness and precise performance which enables monitoring and control of the protection devices even from a remote location. This ensures utmost safety with preventive maintenance and results in minimum downtime. Further, ST^Dx capability, to reflect real time energy consumption with IoT-based metering devices, facilitates energy conservation. These din-rail mountable devices can be installed along with protection devices and communicate relevant data to server. These unique functionalities of the ST^Dx range enhance operational efficiencies.
How is Havells India helping create awareness of switchgear as a circuit-protection and human-protection device amongst electricians and end-consumers?
Havells India always been a thought leader in espousing the cause of electrical safety and we have taken various steps to reinforce the need for the same. We have constantly provided training to electricians in order to promote electrical safety. We have also signed several MoUs with discoms, widespread consumer interaction through resident and industrial welfare associations, etc, where our technical personnel explain the advantages of using right quality protective equipment, for the safety of both equipment and precious lives.
Havells is the first one in the industry to launch PRCD devices; an innovative adaptor type RCCB we call as PRCD plug and adaptor. These can be installed with devices where we have higher possibility of human interaction with machine (leakage current threat) like washing machine, water cooler, desert coolers, microwaves, water purifier, laptops, music speakers, geysers, hair dryers etc.
To reiterate the messaging around consumer safety, recently Havells and BSES partnered to promote home-automation solution for energy conservation and safety among consumers. Under the program a smart home automation solution comprising of Wi-Fi enabled smart plugs and earth leakage circuit breakers ELCB)/residual current circuit breakers ELCB (RCCB) are being offered at discounted prices to BSES consumers in south and west Delhi. Both the top-of-the-line smart plugs and ELCBs/RCCBs are manufactured in our state-of-the-art factory in Noida and have advanced features.
Energy efficiency is today an important dimension of the electricity value chain. How can switchgear contribute towards energy efficiency? Staying with energy efficiency, is the process of manufacturing switchgear also getting energy efficient, and with lesser use of material?
The smart internet of things (IoT) ready switchgear solutions enables real time monitoring, predictive diagnostics, and precise protection against electrical faults. The latest switchgear evolution also offers connectivity capabilities for data analytics and data communication thus making it an ideal solution for facilities working toward achieving Industry 4.0 standards.
Switchgear can seamlessly integrate with building management system, extending supervisory control and other enterprise-level utility systems to control power flow and achieve energy savings. Planned installations can result in nearly 30 per cent lower overall operational costs compared to switchgears without digital capabilities, thanks to efficient monitoring.
Environment-friendly sustainable energy is driving integration of renewable energy with grid, where smart switchgears are playing an important role in meeting the requirements of high level of energy efficiency and power distribution. It is essential to have intelligent switchgears power system as it facilitates the automatic regulation of incoming and outgoing power during peak load, opening and closing of switches to maintain power load and gives a trigger for preventive maintenance. The adoption of smart switchgears will improve uptime making modern businesses more competitive and limiting intervention cost. With advanced programming of load cycle and efficient energy management, it minimizes energy wastage and improve the efficiency/sustainability.
India, along with the world, is at the cusp of an energy transition where “green energy” will be the dominating force. Will this cause any paradigm shift in the switchgear industry? In general, how do you see the years ahead for the switchgear industry, in general, and for the switchgear business of Havells India, in particular?
The demand for electricity generation is projected to drive the switchgear market. The availability of electricity has become essential for economic development and poverty alleviation. Development of industrialization, urbanization requires continuous electricity supply, and the reliability of the electrical supply depends heavily on the performance of the switchgear. Therefore, the demand for electricity generation is driving the demand for switchgear in the forecasted period.
India’s clean energy transition is rapidly underway. India’s aim to reach net zero emissions by 2070 and to meet 50 per cent of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources by 2030 is a hugely significant moment for the global fight against climate change.
This initiative indicates that the shift in switchgear market as well with the increasing adoption of IoT-enabled smart switchgears meeting the requirements of higher energy efficiency and balanced power distribution. It is easier to drive sustainability through innovations and smarter technologies. Havells switchgear range enables minimum wastage and optimal usage, also ensuring maximum safety standards and resource efficiency.
