Ankanyeso yiyona nto eyenza imisebenzi yezorhwebo yesimanje iqhubeke, kodwa-ke izinkampani eziningi zimosha ingxenye enkulu yamandla ezikhokhela wona nsuku zonke. Ukuqonda ukuthi ungasebenzisa kanjani ugesi ngendlela ephumelela kakhudlwana akusaseyona into enhle ukuba nayo kodwa kuyisidingo esibalulekile esithinta ngqo izindleko zokusebenza kanye nesibopho semvelo. I-Lifei, umholi ocabanga phambili ekuphathweni kwamandla ahlakaniphile, ichithe iminyaka ikhula izixazululo ezisiza izinkampani ukuthi ziqaphe, zilawule, futhi zinciphise ukusetshenziswa kwazo kukagesi ngokunemba okungakaze kubonwe. Ngokuhlanganisa ihadiwe esezingeni eliphezulu nesofthiwe ehlakaniphile, i-Lifei inika izinhlangano amandla okuguqula indlela ezisebenzisa ngayo ugesi, iguqule izindleko zikagesi ezimile zibe impahla eguquguqukayo, engalungiswa. Lesi sihloko sihlole zonke izinhlobonhlobo zezinto ezihlinzekwa yi-Lifei futhi sibonise ukuthi kungani ukuphathwa kwamandla ahlakaniphile kuyisihluthulelo sempumelelo yezimali nokusebenza okuhlala njalo.

Uhambo oluya ekusetshenzisweni kukagesi okusebenzayo luqala ngokuqonda okucacile kwezindlela zokusebenzisa zamanje. Amabhizinisi amaningi awanaki kancane ukuthi achitha malini kuwo wonke ama-kilowatt ngehora kuze kube yilapho izindleko zikhula zingalawuleki. Indlela ye-Lifei iqala ngokuqoqwa kwedatha enemininingwane, okuvumela amaklayenti ukuthi abone ngqo nini, kuphi, nokuthi ugesi usetshenziswa kanjani ezindaweni zawo. Kus se lapho, uhlelo lwenkampani lwamamitha ahlakaniphile, amapulatifomu okuphatha amandla, kanye nemishini esebenza kahle kakhulu isebenza ngokubambisana ukuze kuqedwe ukuchitha, kuguqulwe ukusetshenziswa kude namahora aphezulu kagesi, futhi kuqondanise imisebenzi nemithombo yamandla ehlanzekile, eshibhile. Imiphumela iyazikhulumela: izikweletu eziphansi, ukuncishiswa kokukhishwa kwekhabhoni, kanye nomugqa ongezansi onamandla.

Kulo mhlahlandlela obanzi, sizohlola yonke imininingwane yomkhiqizo we-Lifei, sigqamise izinzuzo zobuchwepheshe ezihlukanisa inkampani, futhi sibonise ukuthi amabhizinisi azo zonke izinhlobo angazuza kanjani ngokusebenzisa ugesi ngokuhlakanipha. Uzofunda ukuthi izixazululo zethu zihlanganiswa kanjani kalula nokusetshenziswa kwamandla elanga kanye nezinye izindlela zokuvuselela, ufunde izindaba zangempela ezibonisa ukonga, futhi uzwe ngqo kumakhasimende aseke enza ushintsho. Noma ngabe ufuna ukunciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwamandla ekhaya lakho ezingeni lenkampani noma ukuphatha isikhungo sezimboni esikhulu, i-Lifei inamathuluzi nobuchwepheshe bokuletha imiphumela ecacile. Ake siqale ngokuqonda ukuthi kungani ukusetshenziswa kukagesi okusebenzayo kubaluleke kakhulu manje kunanini ngaphambili.

Ukugxila komhlaba wonke ekusimameni, kanye nokukhuphuka kwamareyithi ezinsiza, kwenze ukusebenza kahle kukagesi kube yinto ebaluleke kakhulu ezinhlanganweni kuyo yonke imikhakha. Wonke i-kilowatt ngehora elichithwa ngendlela engafanele akuyona nje imali elahlekile kodwa futhi kubeka ingcindezi engadingekile kugridi kagesi nasemveleni. Lapho amabhizinisi ehluleka ukuphatha ukusetshenziswa kwawo, avame ukuzithola ekhokha amareyithi aphezulu phakathi namahora aphezulu kagesi, lapho isidingo siphezulu kakhulu futhi amanani angakwazi ukubuyela kancane. Ubuchwepheshe bukaLifei buxazulula le nkinga ngokuqondile ngokunikeza ukubonakala kwesikhathi sangempela kumaphethini okusetshenziswa kanye nezilawuli ezizenzakalelayo ezihambisa izinqubo ezisebenzisa ugesi kakhulu ezikhathini ezingabizi kakhulu.

Ngaphandle kokonga izindleko, ukusetshenziswa kukagesi okusebenzayo kuthuthukisa ukumelana nokusebenza. Izinkampani eziqonda iphrofayela yazo yamandla zingakwazi ukuhlela kangcono ukukhula, ukugwema imikhawulo yamandla, nokugcina umkhiqizo ngisho nasezikhathini zokuguquguquka kukagesi. Isilinganiso sokusetshenziswa kwamandla ekhaya kwendawo yokuhlala cishe singama-kilowatt-amahora angu-900 ngenyanga, kodwa izindawo zokuhweba zingasebenzisa izikhathi eziyishumi noma ngaphezulu. Ukukala leli gapa lokusebenza ngezinsiza zokuphatha ezihlakaniphile kuguqulela ekongeni okukhulu konyaka nokubuyisa okusheshayo kokutshalwa kwezimali. Izixazululo ze-Lifei zenzelwe ukusiza amabhizinisi ukuthi avale leli gapa ngokubhekana nezimbangela zokuchitha kunokuba nje ziphathe izimpawu.

Ekugcineni, ingcindezi yemithetho kanye nezilindelo zabathengi zishukumisa ukuguqukela ekusebenzeni okuhlaza okotshani. Ohulumeni emhlabeni wonke bengenisa izidingo eziqinile zokubika ngamandla kanye nemigomo yokunciphisa i-carbon. Ukubonisa ukuzibophezela ekusebenziseni ugesi ngempumelelo akugcini nje ngokwenza kube lula ukuthobela, kodwa futhi kuqinisa isithunzi somkhiqizo kanye nokwethembeka kwamakhasimende. I-Lifei isiza amaklayenti ukuthi ahlale phambili kulezi zimo ngokuhlinzeka ngedatha kanye nezinqubo zokulawula ezidingekayo ukuze kuthuthukiswe njalo ukusebenza kwawo kwamandla. Ngezinhlelo zethu, amabhizinisi angabika ngokuqiniseka intuthuko yawo futhi abonise iziqu zawo zokuzinza kubabambiqhaza.

I-Lifei inikeza imikhiqizo egcwele ehlangene ukuze kuthuthukiswe indlela osisebenzisa ngayo ugesi. Esisekelweni kukhona izilinganisi zethu ezihlakaniphile ezithuthukile, ezilinganisa ukusetshenziswa ezingeni lesekethe ngalinye ngokunemba okuphezulu. Lezi zilinganisi zidlulisa idatha ngaphandle kwentambo kunkundla yethu esekwe efwini, ziqede isidingo sokufundwa mathupha futhi zinikeze ideshibhodi ebukhoma yamalokhiwo ngalinye ngehora elisetshenziswayo kulo lonke indawo yakho. Ngokungafani nezilinganisi zakudala ezibonisa kuphela ukusetshenziswa okuphelele, izilinganisi ze-Lifei zembula ukuthi yimiphi imishini, izindawo, noma izinqubo ezibangela ukusetshenziswa okuphezulu, okuvumela isenzo esiqondisiwe.

Ngokwakha kulolo lwazi, i-Energy Management System (EMS) yethu isebenzisa izindlela zokufunda ngomshini ukuthola amaphethini, ukuthola izinto ezingajwayelekile, nokunikeza izindlela zokuthuthukisa. I-EMS ingakwazi ukuhlela ngokuzenzakalelayo imithwalo esindayo ukuze kugwenywe amahora aphezulu kagesi, ihlangane namasistimu elanga asendaweni ukuze kukhuliswe ukusetshenziswa kwamandla elanga, futhi ithumele izexwayiso lapho ukusetshenziswa kudlula imingcele echazwe ngaphambili. Abaphathi bezindawo bathola ukulawula okuphelele nge-interface elula ukuyisebenzisa esebenza kumadivayisi we-desktop naweselula, okwenza kube lula ukulungisa izilungiselelo ngesikhathi sangempela. Uhlelo futhi lwakha imibiko enemininingwane ehlukanisa izindleko ngomnyango, isikhathi, noma uhlobo lwemishini, lusiza amabhizinisi ukuthi ahlele izindleko zamandla ngokunemba kakhudlwana.

Ukuze kuqedelwe isixazululo, i-Lifei ihlinzeka ngemikhiqizo ehlukahlukene ephumelela kakhulu nezinto zikagesi—kusukela ezibani ze-LED kuya kubalawuli be-HVAC abahlakaniphile kanye nabashayeli bemishini yezimboni. Yonke imikhiqizo yakhelwe ukunciphisa ukulahleka kwamandla futhi ilethe ukusebenza okufanayo noma okungcono ngamandla amancane. Ngokwesibonelo, uhla lokukhanyisa kwangaphandle lusebenzisa izinzwa zokunyakaza kanye nokuqoqwa kokukhanya kwasemini ukunciphisa ukukhanyisa okungadingekile, kuyilapho iziphazamisi zethu ezihlakaniphile zivikela ekulayisheni ngokweqile futhi zinikeze amandla okukhipha ukuxhumana ukude. Wonke umklamo uklanyelwe ukuthi uxhume kusistimu ye-Lifei, uqinisekise ukuhlanganiswa okungenamihawu kanye nokonga okukhulu. Ngokufaka imishini yakudala ngezindlela ezisebenza kahle ze-Lifei, amabhizinisi angakwazi ukunciphisa ngokushesha amazinga ajwayelekile okusetshenziswa kwamandla asekhaya esikhaleni sezimboni.

Okukwenza ngempela uLifei ukujula kobuchwepheshe bethu be-technological kanye nokwethembeka kwezingxenyekazi zekhompyutha zethu nezinhlelo zethu zesoftware. Izikhethambane zethu ezihlakaniphile kanye nezinhlelo zokuphatha amandla zakhiwe ngokuya ngamazinga ezimboni, okusho ukuthi zisebenza ngokunembayo ezindaweni ezinzima, kusukela ezindaweni zokugcina izimpahla ezithulini kuya ezindaweni zedatha ezilawulwa izinga lokushisa. Imikhiqizo ye-Lifei ihlolwa kakhulu ukuqinisekisa ukuzinza kwesikhathi eside, futhi inkundla yethu yamafu inokuphakama okungu-99.9%, okunikeza amaklayenti isiqiniseko sokuthi idatha yawo yamandla iyatholakala njalo lapho beyidinga. Lokhu kwethembeka kuguqulela ngqo ekonga izindleko ngoba amabhizinisi angathemba uhlelo ukuthi luthathe izinyathelo ezizenzakalelayo ngaphandle kokugadwa njalo.

Elinye inzuzo enkulu ukwanda kwezixazululo ze-Lifei. Isitolo esincane sokudayisa singaqala nge-smart meter eyodwa nephakethe eliyisisekelo le-EMS, bese sandisa ukufaka amamitha amaningi kanye ne-analytics ethuthukile njengoba imisebenzi ikhula. Inkundla isekela ukuphathwa kwezindawo eziningi, ngakho-ke izinkampani ezinemihlangano eminingana zingaqapha futhi zilawule zonke izindawo zazo kusuka ku-dashboard eyodwa emaphakathi. Lo mbono ohlangene wenza kube lula ukuqhathanisa ukusebenza kwezindawo, ukukhomba izindlela ezingcono kakhulu, nokwethula izinhlelo zokonga ugesi kulo lonke ibhizinisi. Amandla okukala ngaphandle kokushintsha ihadiwe ekhona avikela utshalomali lokuqala futhi aqinisekisa ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kukagesi okusebenzayo kuhlala kuyinto ebalulekile njengoba ibhizinisi likhula.

Ukonga izindleko ezivela kwezixazululo zikaLifei ngokuvamile kusukela ku-15% kuye ku-35% ezinkokhelweni zikagesi zenyanga, lapho amaklayenti amaningi ethola ukubuyiselwa ezinyangeni ezingaphansi kwemibili. Lokhu konga kuvela emithonjeni emithathu eyinhloko: ukunciphisa ukusetshenziswa okuphelele, ukuhambisa ukusetshenziswa kude nezikhathi lapho ugesi uphezulu khona, kanye nokwelula impilo yemishini ngokulawula kangcono umthwalo. Uma kuhlangene nezikhuthazo kanye nezaphulelo ezinikezwa yizinkampani zikagesi ngokwamukela ubuchwepheshe obusebenzisa ugesi ngempumelelo, isizathu sezimali siba namandla nakakhulu. Ithimba likaLifei lisiza amaklayenti ukuthi athole futhi afake izicelo kulezi zinhlelo, lenze inzuzo enkulu kuyo yonke imali etshaliwe futhi lenze isinqumo sokuthuthukisa sibe lula nakakhulu.

Njengoba amabhizinisi amaningi esebenzisa izindlela zokuvuselela amandla ukuze aqhube imisebenzi yawo, ikhono lokuphatha lezi zinsiza ngempumelelo libalulekile. Inkundla yokuphatha amandla ye-Lifei yakhelwe ngokukhethekile ukuthi ihambisane namaphaneli elanga, izinjini zomoya, izinhlelo zokugcina amabhethri, nezinye izinsiza zamandla ezisatshalalisiwe. Ngokuqapha ukukhiqizwa kwesikhathi sangempela kanye nokusetshenziswa, uhlelo luqinisekisa ukuthi ugesi ovuselelekayo ongcono kakhulu ungasetshenziswa endaweni kunokuba uthunyelwe kugridi ngamanani aphansi. Lokhu kwandisa inani lotshalo-mali lwakho ekusebenziseni amandla elanga futhi kusheshe indlela yokuba nemisebenzi engu-net-zero.

Ipulatifomu yethu iphinde ibhekane nobunzima bokugcina amandla, igcwalisa amabhethri ngokuzenzakalelayo lapho ukukhiqizwa kwamandla avuselelekayo kudlula isidingo futhi ikhiphe amandla ngesikhathi samahora aphezulu kagesi lapho amandla enethiwekhi ebiza kakhulu. Leli khono livumela amabhizinisi ukuthi anciphise ukuncika kwawo kumandla kagesi asuselwa emafutheni ezinto ezibunile noma ngabe ilanga alikhanyi noma umoya awushayi. Ama-algorithm ka-Lifei afaka izibikezeli zezulu, izindlela zokusebenzisa ezingokomlando, kanye namanani entengo angempela ukwenza izinqumo ezihlakaniphile ezithuthukisa izindleko nokusimama. Umphumela uhlelo lwamandla oluhlanganisiwe olusebenza kanzima futhi ngokuhlakanipha kunanoma yikuphi ukufakwa kwamandla avuselelekayo okuzimele okwakungakwenza.

Ukuzibophezela kwe-Lifei kumandla amasha kudlula isofthiwe. Sinikeza ukukhetha okubanzi kwehadiwe ehambisanayo, okuhlanganisa ama-inverter ahlanganisiwe, amabhange ebhethri, namashaja e-EV, konke okuklanyelwe ukusebenza kahle ngenkundla yethu yokuphatha. I-Amandla amashaIkhasi linikeza isibuyekezo esiphelele salawa makhambi, kanye nemininingwane enemininingwane kanye neziqondiso zokucushwa. Noma ngabe wakha indawo entsha noma ubuyekeza eyikhona, iLifei yenza kube lula ukuhlanganisa izivuseleli futhi uthathe isilawuli esiphelele sekusasa lakho lamandla. Ngokuhambisa ukukhiqizwa okubuyisela emuva namaphethini okusetshenziswa, amabhizinisi anganciphisa kakhulu amazinga abo ajwayelekile okusetshenziswa kwamandla asekhaya esikhaleni sezohwebo ngenkathi anciphisa nomkhondo wabo wekhabhoni.

Enye yezindlela ezihehayo kakhulu zokuqonda umthelela wezixazululo ze-Lifei ukuhlola ukusetshenziswa kwangempela. Isitshalo sokucubungula ukudla esifundeni esichitha u-R450,000 ngonyaka ku-gesi sifake izikhethelo ezihlakaniphile ze-Lifei kanye nenkundla ye-EMS emgqeni waso wokukhiqiza. Ezingxenyeni ezintathu zokuqala, uhlelo lwathola ukuthi u-23% wokusetshenziswa okuphelele kwenzeka phakathi namahora aphezulu kagesi ngoba amayunithi athile okupholisa ayebaleka ebusuku ngokungadingekile. Ngokuhlela kabusha imithwalo ukuze isetshenziswe ngaphandle kwamahora aphezulu kanye nokulungisa ukuvuza komoya ocindezelwe okutholwe yinkundla, isitshalo sibe nengqikithi yokunciphisa izindleko zokufunwa okuphezulu ngo-31% futhi songa ngaphezu kuka-R62,000 ngonyaka wokuqala kuphela.

Esinye isimo, uchungechunge lwezitolo eziyi-15 lufake izilawuli zokukhanyisa ezihlakaniphile kanye ne-HVAC ze-Lifei kanye nenkundla yokuphatha amandla. Ideshibhodi emaphakathi yembula ukuthi izitolo eziningana zazicisha izibani ngemuva kwamahora okuvala futhi zigcina amazinga okushisa angalungile. Ngokusebenzisa imithetho ye-automation yenkundla, umphathi wamandla wezinkampani wahlela zonke izitolo ukuthi zilalele uhlelo olulodwa olunciphise ukusetshenziswa kwe-kilowatt ngehora esitolo ngasinye ngo-18%. Ngokuhlanganiswa nokufakwa kwezibani ze-LED eziphumelela kakhulu ezivela kumugqa womkhiqizo we-Lifei, uchungechunge lulondoloze imali engu-$187,000 ngonyaka kuzo zonke izindawo.

Isibonelo sesithathu sibandakanya isikhungo sokugcina impahla esihlanganise izixazululo ze-Lifei nohlelo lwamandla elanga ophahleni kanye nesistimu yokugcina amabhethri. Isidingo esikhulu kakhulu sesikhungo sasibiza kakhulu, sithatha cishe u-40% wenkatho yaso yanyanga zonke kagesi. Inkundla ye-Lifei manje isihambisa amandla ebhethri ngokuzenzakalelayo phakathi namahora aphezulu kagesi futhi ishaje kusuka kumaphaneli elanga phakathi nesikhathi sokukhiqiza sasemini. Leli su lenze izindleko zesidingo esikhulu sehle ngo-52% futhi lenze ukusetshenziswa kwesikhungo kwamandla elanga kusuka ku-60% kuye ku-94%. Isikhungo manje sihlangabezana no-78% wezidingo zaso zonke zamandla kagesi kusuka kumandla avuselelekayo asendaweni, futhi ukonga okuhlanganisiwe kwezindleko zikagesi nezokwakha kunikeze ukubuyiselwa okugcwele kokutshalwa kwezimali ezinyangeni eziyi-19 nje kuphela.

Idumela likaLifei ngekhwalithi nemiphumela libonakala empendulweni esiyithola kumakhasimende emikhakheni ehlukahlukene. UMaria Torres, uMkhuzi Wezindawo kwa inkampani yokukhiqiza ephakathi nendawo, wabelane wathi: “Ngaphambi kukaLifei, sasingazi ukuthi ugesi wethu uya kuphi. Amamitha ethu ahlakaniphile nedeshibhodi kusinikeze ukubonakala esasingakaze sikubone, futhi ukuhlela okuzenzakalelayo kusisindise u-22% ebili yenyanga. Uhlelo lukhokhe ngaphansi konyaka.” Ngokufanayo, uJames Park, uMphathi Wokusebenza kwa isakhiwo samahhovisi esikhulu, waqaphela wathi: “Ukuhlanganiswa namaphaneli ethu elanga kwaba bushelelezi. Inkundla kaLifei manje isiphatha isitoreji sebhethri lethu futhi isitshela ngqo ukuthi nini okufanele sikudwele kugridi uma kuqhathaniswa nokusebenzisa amandla agciniwe. Kufana nokuba nochwepheshe bamandla ehhovisi lakho amahora angu-24 ngosuku, izinsuku ezingu-7 ngeviki.”

Ochwepheshe bemboni baphinde babona iminikelo kaLifei emkhakheni wokuphathwa kwamandla. UDkt. Helena Chen, uprofesa wezobunjiniyela obusimeme eyunivesithi ehamba phambili, ubeke wathi: “Indlela kaLifei yokuhlanganisa ukulinganisa okuningiliziwe nokwenza kahle okushukumiswa yi-AI imele isimo sobuciko ekuphathweni kwamandla ezohwebo. Inkundla yabo ixazulula izizathu zokuziphatha nezobuchwepheshe zokuchitha, okwenza kube yinye yezixazululo ezibanzi kakhulu engizibonile.” Ukugunyazwa okunjengalezi kugcizelela ukwethembana abasebenzi nabafundisi abanakho kubuchwepheshe bukaLifei nemiphumela esobala abayilethayo ekusetshenzisweni kukagesi ngendlela efanele.

Ukuze uhlale unolwazi ngezindaba zempumelelo zakamuva, ukuthuthukiswa komkhiqizo, namathiphu okonga amandla, sikumema ukuthi uvakashele i-Izindaba ikhasi. Lapho uzothola izihloko, izindaba ezithinta impumelelo, nezimemezelo ezikugcina unolwazi ngesimo samandla esishintshayo nokuthi iLifei iqhubeka kanjani nokwenza izinto ezintsha. Ukuzibophezela kwethu ekubeni obala kusho ukuthi sabelana ngempumelelo yethu kanye nezifundo esizifundayo endleleni, sisiza wonke umphakathi wabaphathi bamandla ukuthi uthuthukise umkhuba wawo.

Manje, kufanele kube sobala ukuthi indlela ozisebenzisa ngayo ugesi inomthelela omkhulu ekusebenzeni kwakho kwezezimali nasendleleni oyihambayo emvelweni. I-Lifei inikeza indlela eqinisekisiwe yokunciphisa izindleko, ukwethembeka okukhulu, nokusebenza okunamandla kokuqhubeka kwemvelo ngokuhlanganiswa kwezingxenye zikagesi ezisezingeni lomhlaba, isofthiwe ehlakaniphile, kanye nolwazi olujulile embonini. Noma ngabe uqala uhambo lwakho lokusebenzisa ugesi ngendlela efanele noma ufuna ukuthatha uhlelo olukhona uye ezingeni elilandelayo, ithimba lethu lilungele ukukusiza ukuthi ukhethe isixazululo esihambisana nezidingo zakho ezihlukile kanye nesabelomali sakho.

Sikukhuthaza ukuthi uhlole ububanzi obugcwele bezinto ezingenziwa yiLifei ngokuvakashela ikhasi lethu le-Ikhaya lapho ungathola khona okwengeziwe mayelana nenkampani yethu, izindinganiso zethu, nokuzibophezela kwethu ekuthuthukisweni okuluhlaza. Ungase futhi uphequlule isiqondisi sethu semikhiqizo ukuze uthole DELIXI Electricizingxenye, okubandakanya iziphazamisi zesekethe, izishintshi, nezinye izakhiwo ezibalulekile zezinhlelo zikagesi ezisebenza kahle ngamandla. Uma unemibuzo ethile mayelana nendawo yakho noma ungathanda ukuhlela ukubonisana, ochwepheshe bethu bamandla basendaweni nje yocingo noma i-imeyili.

Ungavumeli enye i-kilowatt ngehora ichitheke. Thinta i-Lifei namuhla ukuze sixoxe ngokuthi izixazululo zethu ezihlakaniphile zingakusiza kanjani ukuthi wehlise ukusetshenziswa kukagesi okujwayelekile ekhaya lakho emisebenzini yakho yezentengiselwano, ugweme amahora aphezulu kagesi abiza kakhulu, futhi usebenzise kahle ukusetshenziswa kwamandla elanga kanye nezinye izindlela zokuvuselela. Indlela eya ezikweletini eziphansi, ukusebenza kahle okuphezulu, kanye nekusasa eliluhlaza iqala ngokuxoxisana okukodwa—futhi i-Lifei ilungele ukukuqondisa kuyo yonke imikhakha.