Energy consumption and industrial ambition toward becoming Net Zero are of global consequence. On the macro scale, as we build more and utilize more digitally and electronically, “the ongoing electrification of everything” makes it imperative to find ways of conserving and managing power consumption.
Integrators and engineers have managed this for some time, born of necessity and innovative thinking. In the last decade, IoT has revolutionized measuring and monitoring the impact of industrial energy consumption and its environmental impact. This involves developing ecological monitoring, renewable energy use cases, HVAC systems for facility management, and IoT energy monitoring systems for better efficiency in utilities and factories.
The Energy Impact and Growth of IoT Development
However, the world’s data demands continue to grow, not least from the massive processing power required by AI / machine learning technologies. UK National Grid CEO John Pettigrew called data centers a source of systemic stress, saying, “Power demands are expected to increase by 500% over the next 10 years.”
A peer-reviewed study in the same report estimates that AI power consumption could reach between 85 and 134 terawatt hours (TWh) annually by 2027. (That is in the range of what Sweden and Argentina each use in a year and would constitute about 0.5% of what the world currently uses.)
AIOTI, an industry alliance tasked with advancing Europe’s digital and green transformations, has identified energy efficiency as one of its 18 strategic research and innovation priorities. The goal is to evolve IoT technologies into an integrated digital ecosystem to advance hyper-automation in all industrial sectors. Specifically, AIOTI identifies three research topics: energy harvesting, with its potential to remove the dependency on batteries for power and their need for periodic replacement; the energy efficiency of hardware, and the energy efficiency of data processing. More on these in our satellite use cases later.
Why is Energy a Design Constraint in Satellite IoT?
Satellite IoT is a means of transmitting very remote IoT data over satellite. Satellite modems can be paired with individual sensors or can backhaul the data from LPWAN gateways. Power usage is often a constraint within these types of IoT applications because mains power is frequently unavailable. Therefore, it matters that the system’s energy consumption and a ‘Low Power Mindset’ are part of the IoT system design process.
Five Power Conservation Examples in Remote Satellite IoT
Here, we explore five design considerations in Satellite IoT that have helped remotely manage IoT energy consumption. Utilizing what energy is available, making it go further, and where possible, reducing the industrial carbon footprint.
1. Minimize What Data You Send, and how Frequently You Send it
Low power design considerations were recently explored in our webinar for IoT Central, covering Data Optimization, Interoperability, Coverage and Power Consumption in Satellite IoT design. Deep-diving into the section on power, the more data bandwidth a satellite IoT system utilizes, and the more frequently it sends data, the more power-hungry the satellite IoT device will be.
A key takeaway from the discussion: since both the send and idle mode for the device consume energy, keeping the device send mode to a minimum and utilizing a satellite device with low resting energy consumption in idle, are important considerations. This video snippet discusses the key design considerations for preserving power in Satellite IoT design. For a longer summary of the webinar, you might enjoy our post: A Guide to Satellite IoT for Cellular IoT Specialists
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2. Data Processing at the Edge
Every time data is sent over a network, there is some level of energy cost in terms of power used; this is no exception with satellite networks. Satellite IoT connectivity requires more power than terrestrial networks to establish and maintain communication links with satellites in space. Edge computing utilizes light algorithms and task offloading to execute intensive tasks at the network’s edge. It can conserve energy on satellite IoT devices, make smart task decisions, decrease task delay, and reduce the volume of data sent over the network.
RockREMOTE’S edge computing capabilities have helped reduce system energy by analyzing data at the data collection point. Its capabilities include reporting by exception, defining data prioritization, and the ability to compress the data at the edge before sending it over the satellite network. With LTE-M, Certus 100, and IMT capabilities, the device switches between networks for uninterrupted connectivity. This provides 100% connectivity, balancing data transfer costs, appropriate network selection, and minimizing network energy consumption. This short video talks more about RockREMOTE’s edge processing capabilities in a use case on African Game Reserves.
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3. Energy Harvesting – Solar Energy for Satellite IoT Sustainability
Energy harvesting can provide an inexhaustible electrical energy supply captured from renewable sources: solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, tidal, and wave energy. Depending on the application and the supply, this energy can supplement or replace a primary cell or battery. Harvested energy can be used to power the circuitry directly or stored in the buffer until needed.
A recent use case for RockBLOCK Sense involved a customer measuring water levels in fracking sites in northern Canada. The localities were remote, unmanned, and unpowered, and temperatures frequently dropped below -32°C (-25.6°F). The solution needed to be self-powered, extremely robust, and reliable. The RockBLOCK Sense satellite transceiver is highly ruggedized to cope with harsh weather conditions and has very low power requirements. Accordingly, it consumes less than 380mW with a five-minute value transmission interval. Connecting it to a small solar panel array, combined with a lithium-based cell, harvested more than enough solar power to send two daily messages over satellite, plus an immediate alert if water levels exceeded predefined parameters. You can read more about this energy-saving project here.
4. Power and Cabling Efficiencies with Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Piggybacking off existing power supply with PoE eliminates the need for a separate power supply by delivering DC power to a device from the existing Ethernet infrastructure. Strictly speaking, this example means that the power cabling already exists, and a power supply for other technology is available to share. Think offshore platforms, ships, or buoys to bring to life some, (not all) examples of this use case: some power, but with limited cellular connectivity. Utilizing PoE to supply the satellite device reduces standby power consumption and overall energy usage.
A centralized power management approach can also enable more efficient resource allocation and reduce energy waste compared to individual power adapters for each connected device. PoE standards, such as IEEE 802.3af and IEEE 802.3at, include power-saving mechanisms like sleep modes and low-power states. This enables connected devices to operate more efficiently and intelligently, managing power consumption based on usage patterns leading to overall energy savings.
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The pictured RockREMOTE Mini keeps satellite device power consumption very low, with less than 0.25W in receive mode. In addition to its optimized power consumption, it has two power supply options: a 10-30V supply or PoE+ (802.3at). This flexibility provides a convenient and efficient solution for powering the device and eliminates the need for a separate power source, reducing installation cost and design complexity.
5. Pulse Width Modulation in Remote Locations
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is a technique for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electronic device by rapidly switching the power on and off. The key to PWM is controlling the duty cycle, which is the percentage of time the signal is “on” versus the time it is “off” during each cycle.
Imagine a light dimmer that can adjust the brightness of a light. Instead of providing a steady flow of electricity, the dimmer rapidly switches the light on and off. The average brightness of the light depends on the proportion of the time it is on versus the time it is off:
High Duty Cycle: If the light is on 90% of the time and off 10% of the time, it will be very bright.
Low Duty Cycle: If the light is on 10% of the time and off 90% of the time, it will be dim.
PWM works similarly with other devices, like motors, where it controls speed, or heaters, where it controls temperature.
In the vast, sparsely populated Australian Outback, isolated and off-grid locations such as cattle stations and small farms require satellite technology to manage solar power systems for water pumps, electric fences, and communications equipment, ensuring continuous operation. Ensuring the battery life of the equipment is essential to keeping everything in operation and managing energy usage efficiency.
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The RockBLOCK Switch’s PWM controls the battery charging current from connected solar panels. By adjusting the duty cycle, the charge controller regulates the voltage and current, preventing overcharging and optimizing battery life. The Switch device is designed to operate with minimal power, which is crucial for keeping the remote installations running without over-drawing energy from the overall system. Triggering on/off switching can be key to managing resources, conserving, and managing the power supply, and extending battery lifetime in remote and/or unmanned locations.
With power supply and energy management as consistent considerations in developing satellite IoT projects, these use cases highlight the variety of innovations that have been used to navigate the physical, logistical, and infrastructure limitations of remote off-grid locations. Once the parameters of the Satellite IoT project are established, often the most appropriate solution is obvious. Our engineers love a challenge, so if there is an energy constraint holding your remote IoT project back, get in touch, and our technical and development teams will be happy to help.
Further Reading
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19th March 2024A Guide to Satellite IoT for Cellular IoT Specialists
Many of the challenges faced in cellular connectivity – interoperability, coverage, power consumption, data optimization – have parallels in satellite connectivity. If you know what to expect, you can plan accordingly, and save yourself time and money in the long run.
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23rd January 2024IP vs Messaging for Satellite IoT Data Transmission
We discuss the cost and efficiency considerations of choosing between IP and messaging for satellite IoT data transmission, and the importance of selecting the most suitable method based on specific applications.
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9th March 2023
5 Steps To Reducing IoT Connectivity Costs
91% of businesses surveyed by Inmarsat believe satellite connectivity is key to improving the effectiveness of IoT solutions. But many still consider satellite connectivity expensive. Our response? It’s far more cost-effective than you might think.
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5th January 2023
How Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT) opens up new IoT possibilities
IMT offers arguably the best of both worlds – a message-based service utilising Iridium Certus 100 to send/receive messages up to 100,000 bytes.
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5th June 2023
Infographic: How to unlimit your IoT application with the RockREMOTE Rugged
Our infographic draws out some of the key benefits of the RockREMOTE Rugged, leveraging LTE, Iridium Certus 100 and Iridium Messaging Transport, for flexible remote IoT connectivity.
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30th September 2021
Could your Business Achieve More with Better Connectivity?
In this webinar, we dismantle the perception that satellite for IoT is too costly, fragile or insecure to be effective, and give real-life examples of where the extra data provided by satellite IoT connectivity has materially improved outcomes – from smart farming to disaster management, environmental monitoring to renewable energy production.
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11th May 2023
From LEO to GEO: Exploring the Different Types of Satellite IoT
Satellite IoT enables IoT connectivity in remote and potentially dangerous areas – but it’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition. This post explores the various options available based on the orbiting height of the satellite network.
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14th December 2022
Introducing Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT)
Taking full advantage of IMT, the latest Iridium network service evolution, Ground Control is proud to announce the development of a new Satellite IoT delivery network.
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6th January 2023
Introducing Ground Control’s Satellite IoT Gateway
Our Director of Software Engineering, Dan Ambrose, explains how our new IoT Gateway makes utilising Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT) easy, from managing the connection to message queuing, and retries.
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13th October 2022
How RockBLOCKs Can Transform IoT Projects With Global Connectivity
Cellular connectivity only covers 15% of the globe. Learn how the RockBLOCK suite can help simplify IoT expansion with pole-to-pole connectivity.
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16th March 2023
How Satellite IoT Closes The Gap in Remote Wind Turbine Data Monitoring Challenges
Satellite connectivity ensures reliable remote data monitoring from individual turbines to entire wind farms allowing optimization and ongoing performance assurance of wind energy output.
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1st November 2021
5 Ways to Reduce Data Transmission Costs in the Oil Well Lifecycle
In this webinar, we look at 5 ways in which optimized connectivity – reckoned to add $250 billion of value to upstream Oil and Gas operations by 2030 – can be achieved. We explore lowering costs through better device monitoring, choosing the best communications strategy for each application, and implementing emerging technology such as edge computing.
Would you like to know more?
If you’re tackling an remote connectivity challenge, with constraints on power, we can almost certainly help.
Call us on +44 (0) 1452 751940 (UK) or +1.805.783.4600 (USA); email hello@groundcontrol.com, or complete the form.
We have over 20 years’ experience designing and building satellite communication devices, and our expert team is standing by to offer support and suggestions.