PLC Functional Modules for Energy Management Functionalities

A computation unit, comprising:

• a programming device including at least one energy consumer functional module and at least one energy control functional module,
• wherein the computation unit is configured to carry out a method for programming a programmable logic controller configured to control at least one energy consumer of a machine,
• wherein the method includes selecting at least one of (i) the at least one energy consumer functional module, and (ii) the at least one energy control functional module in the programming device in order to program an energy management program configured to provide at least one energy management functionality for the machine,
• wherein the at least one energy consumer functional module is configured to contain data specific to the at least one energy consumer, and
• wherein the at least one energy control functional module is configured to contain data specific to the at least one energy management functionality.

A machine-readable storage medium comprising:

• a computer program product including a program code configured to cause a computation unit to carry out a method for programming a programmable logic controller configured to control at least one energy consumer of a machine when the program code is executed on the computation unit,
• wherein the method includes selecting at least one of (i) at least one energy consumer functional module, and (ii) at least one energy control functional module in the programming device in order to program an energy management program configured to provide at least one energy management functionality for the machine,
• wherein the at least one energy consumer functional module is configured to contain data specific to the at least one energy consumer, and
• wherein the at least one energy control functional module is configured to contain data specific to the at least one energy management functionality.