AI TO MANAGE THE ELECTRICITY GRIDS OF THE FUTURE

Using artificial intelligence and machine learning to manage the electricity grids of the future

Existing power grids were designed to transmit electricity over relatively short distances, however, increasingly grids are required to supply major cities from remote offshore wind farms at the same time as integrating local generation. With generators feeding variable amounts of energy from renewable sources into the grid at all voltage levels, it is more difficult to balance supply and demand, and the risks of overloads and fluctuations increase.

By 2020 it is estimated that there will be over 50 billion smart devices connected to the internet, creating vast quantities of data which can be harnessed to develop smart systems for managing electricity systems, both at a local and national level to reduce the costs of balancing the electricity system.

The management and operation of the future power system and its components – particularly active power distribution grids and microgrids – will require new control functionality.

The complexity of the electricity system is increasing, new technologies such as renewable generation, storage and electric vehicles are changing the fundamental dynamics of the grid, and the growth in demand-side response, changing consumer behaviours, and the emergence of connected devices are creating a major shift in the interactions affecting the system. AI is likely to play an increasing role in managing and optimising these interactions, and helping system operators to adapt to the new grid landscapes without falling back on expensive reinforcement projects.

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