From power plants to grids: the digitalization of energy

The energy transition currently under way embraces all aspects of the electricity system. One of the most disruptive of these, together with the decarbonization of the electricity generation mix, is digitalization, which is transforming the processes by which energy is produced, distributed and consumed. Predictive maintenance and machine learning Digitalization of energy begins where energy begins: at the power plants. Today, management not only of wind farms and solar parks, but also of the old hydroelectric plants is automated, at least in part. Thanks to sensors, it is possible to collect information from a turbine, dam or pipe in real time and send it to a centralized control room. Here the use of innovative software enables operators to detect anomalous data and thus identify potential risks. It is therefore possible to intervene in advance, before damage occurs. This is known as predictive maintenance, thanks to which repairs can be carried out promptly and at times when they interfere less in production. Real time identification of inefficiencies enables us to improve the performance and efficiency of the plants. Thanks to a data driven approach and machine learning algorithms, the programs used for this purpose are able to improve on their own, especially since, with centralized management, they can rely on Big Data coming not only from an individual plant but also from all the plants managed by that producer. In this way the most advanced software, such as Aveva Predictive Analytics, is constantly updating, becoming more and more precise. In the long term, machine learning will enable plants to self-monitor their own stress status. Artificial Intelligence (AI) thus enables the identification in real time not only of potential anomalies, but also of simple inefficiencies that, while not compromising the functioning of a plant, can reduce its productivity. On this basis therefore, it is possible to arrange to resolve these situations with short- to medium-term actions to improve performance. Moving on to operations in the field, the Internet of Things, in its variant IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), offers instruments such as drones or robots that can carry out plant inspections, reducing the time required, increasing accuracy and efficiency and eliminating risks to people. In this way moreover, it is also possible to conduct studies and minimize the environmental impact on biodiversity or the management of water resources around plants, for example. Smart glasses can be used to operate remotely, enabling office-bound operators to see through their monitors what is happening in real time at a plant that may be situated a long way away and if necessary to provide remote help to the personnel on the ground via a live link. When a human presence is required, the digital transformation is of great help thanks to augmented or virtual reality systems. Using digital simulations, technicians can receive training comparable with that of flight simulators for pilots and once out in the field they can tackle the situation with more tools available to them. Smart grids that are increasingly flexible and decentralized The most evident effect of digitalization concerns the grids that transport and distribute the electricity that is produced. On this front the basic elements are electronic meters that enable smart grids, with which it is possible to manage and balance the electricity system efficiently. That is a solution that is particularly important for intermittent renewable sources, such as wind or solar power, which can thereby be fully integrated with the grid. This has an even greater value in a scenario in which the network becomes increasingly flexible and decentralized. The old top-down structure, in which energy flows in a single direction from producer to consumer, is now shifting towards a model of distributed generation in which there is a growing number of small producers and consumers capable of feeding electricity into the network. Flexibility thus becomes a key element that enables grids to manage flows and to establish a dialogue in real time between operators and consumers, who are increasingly becoming fully-fledged actors on the grid. The challenge of the digitalization of the energy sector therefore mainly concerns the grid operators. Estimates indicate that 17% of investment in the networks in future will focus on innovations in terms of transmission (TSO, Transmission System Operator) and, above all, distribution (DSO, Distribution System Operator) from renewable sources. The other significant evolution of smart grids is their transformation into resilient, participatory and sustainable platforms to facilitate new services and generate value to the benefit of the entire ecosystem. The infrastructure thus becomes the essential basis for economic and social activities. Electricity distribution networks that are accessible, flexible and inclusive play a central role in enabling society in general, and stakeholders in particular, to achieve their goals. Moreover, the intelligent management of the network boosts efficiency and reduces waste, resulting in further benefits for the environment. Finally, the new model for electric energy – with the electrification of consumption, i.e. replacing technologies that use fossil fuels with technologies that use electricity from renewable sources – opens up opportunities in terms of the market and business models, models that involve old and new players and that require transparency and the real time tracking of energy flows. Grid operators, then, position themselves as neutral facilitators of this dynamic market and, above all, as active partners in energy storage and the management of energy loads, in addition to monitoring electricity rates. A new role for the consumer As we have seen, at the other end of the energy system, that of the final consumer, digitalization is also fostering the energy transition. An example of the tangible benefits that digitalization offers customers is represented by the innovative interfaces through which new smart meters provide information about consumption and production practically in real time, enabling new services such as demand response and home automation, remotely operated intelligent solutions that manage security systems, electrical appliances and temperature regulation. The role of customers is changing. From passive and largely unaware users they are becoming active and discerning protagonists in the electricity system, increasing their own energy awareness. This is even more evident in the case of “prosumers”, i.e. customers who are both producers and consumers of energy. Thanks to digitalization they can contribute to the electricity generation mix and help reduce emissions. The energy transition is a phenomenon that goes beyond the simple generation of clean electricity. Through digitalization it involves everyone, producers and consumers.

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From power plants to grids: the digitalization of energy

From power plants to grids: the digitalization of energy

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