Why Grid Operators Need To Focus On Data and Software

Very few things are static. It seems fair to state though that operating electric utilities was static for decades. Tomorrow would be the same as this time last year.

Occasionally, utilities would need to extend the grid when new residential areas were built or when industries expanded requiring higher power consumption. Of course, there was also ongoing maintenance. And from time to time, the hectic restoring after outages caused by storms.

But this is changing – electric utilities are facing a drastic shift and they must react.

Reliable access to electricity is the foundation of growth and of everyday life. Even more so in the near future when electrical energy will take over from fossil fuels.

At the same time, operating a grid is becoming increasingly complex.

• Decentralized production patterns with variable renewable energy (even feeding into the distribution grid) take over after the centralized power plants that produce as planned.

• Electric vehicles charge and feed back into the grid.

Adding to this, an increasing number of storms and wildfires caused by climate change are likely to lead to more outages. And this must be dealt with while meeting regulatory requirements and calls from management for more cost-efficient grid operation.

The ways we operate power grids must change. And we must address these challenges in an intelligent way so that we avoid CapEx and OpEx exploding.

I dare to predict a major development that will gain momentum over the coming years. The power utilities that deliver successfully as well as the societies where these utilities operate will be the winners of tomorrow.

The Digital Twin

A true digital twin of the grid involves consolidated documentation of the grid geometry, connectivity, switching status, impedance data, asset information – to a level of detail allowing topological analysis and tracing across circuits, voltage levels, and through substations.

Offering access for field workers to engage, utilize, and update all grid data anywhere, anytime, and on any device is pivotal.

Leaving the task of establishing and maintaining data quality to a centralized GIS department will render inefficient workflows – and will not offer the optimal value of data.

I generally imagine a near future where DSOs have fewer processes and workflows that depend on work in the office and the bottle-neck issues this causes.

Utilities will be offering apps delivering the decision support directly to the field worker – whether it’s planning a new grid, performing short-circuit and load-flow calculations, replacing assets or performing maintenance tasks.

Like in many other businesses, apps and the inherent accessibility they offer are a necessity in data management. Any field worker will soon have the tools available to support business processes.

But up-to-date documentation of the grid is one side of the coin. Smart meters delivering hourly meter readings and offering grid loading and quality of service data is the other side.

Upon this foundation of data, the DSO will require a software portfolio offering:

• Trustworthy near-term prediction of consumption and production at every meter.

• Up-to-date and near future load-flow calculations and prediction of upcoming grid congestion.

• Automatically identifying mitigating measures – which batteries to charge and use as local production units, which DERs to disconnect, which tie-breakers to switch.

• Trading with the many EV- and DER-owners and units now acting as energy flexibility service providers.

Proactive grid control will offer the means to prevent or postpone investments in grid reinforcement as well as minimize grid losses.

This value may be shared with the electric vehicle and local battery owners acting as flexibility service providers. We are heading for a future with an endless number of energy flexibility service merchants.

We often hear of micro-grids as the solution to the challenges. I believe micro-grids will become the result of the solutions.

Organizational Commitment Required

Electric utilities are facing major changes and whenever major changes occur uncertainty grows.

In such circumstances, many organizations tend to focus on the things that may go wrong if they change the way they have been working for decades. Organizational resistance is natural but this is where management comes in.

Also, although the solutions will be costly, they will be less expensive than going the hardware way of adding more copper. This too calls for those at the top to commit to the new path and deliver on funding.

Utilities taking on this new challenge will need to understand that this is a complex change and transformation will take some time.

And as challenging as this may be – let's not ignore the fact that the alternative to proactive grid control may very well be accepting deteriorating grid reliance and increased cost operating the grid and/or adding more hardware. And societies unable to sustain a thriving business.

If you'd like to find out how Volue software can help you with proactive grid control, get in touch with us.

* This article was first published in Energy Central.