AVEVA Utility Executive Summit: Grid transformation and the energy transition

 Posted: July 18, 2024

In June 2024, the AVEVA Utility Executive Summit brought together electric-industry executives from across the Americas to share their challenges and opportunities and discuss a vision and strategy for advancing grid infrastructure. Having all these leaders in a room together was a privilege. My main takeaway was that reliable data will be crucial to manage growing electricity demand, mitigate the impacts of climate change and get utilities to net zero.

Hear what Commissioner J. Andrew McAllister, PhD, Commissioner, California Energy Commission learned at the event.

Dynamic challenges require resilience

The rapid growth of electrification, data centers and AI is increasing grid load and demand across the globe, all while the power industry faces:

• Stricter environmental mandates
• Supply-chain disruptions
• Inflation
• Cybersecurity and physical security threats
• Increasingly complex grids

Power companies have to become more resilient, especially in response to climate change. They need to construct new transmission lines and interties to meet their need for distant and varied renewable sources. 

Increasing capacity requires innovative infrastructure

Capacity—the ability to meet peak demand—is the highest-priority issue, not energy. Utilities need renewable energy sources that can scale up to meet growing demand. Because renewable energy sources have such complex dynamics, they require a modernized grid, more energy storage capacity, and innovative technology, such as AI, that can control the grid intelligently. Demand-response programs and technologies are key to lowering peak load and enhancing customer involvement.

Reliability through the energy transition

The effects of climate change are accelerating, and utilities must harden the grid through both physical means (undergrounding the grid networks) and digital means (improved situational awareness and visibility). Safety is key, as is security—both of physical assets but also digital- or cyber-security.

Utilities need infrastructure upgrades so they can maintain reliability while integrating renewable energy and battery energy storage. They also need innovative technologies to help make decisions, manage assets and optimize the power grid. Regional and local communities need distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids to give them equitable and reliable access to electricity from carbon-free sources.

Dependable data is at the foundation of innovation

Data is foundational to the power industry. Dependable data gives utilities real-time insights and analytics they can use to enhance operations and planning, reduce their carbon footprints, increase reliability, and offer cost-effective, customer-focused services. 

Analytics that aggregate data about weather, operations, demand patterns, future renewable prediction models, and social and economic trends make more accurate forecasts and let companies compare alternative scenarios so they can optimize their short- and long-term plans. Utilities are also using data to mitigate the risks of hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, ice storms, and other climate-related events by incorporating improved weather modeling into their day-to-day operations.

Communication, communication, communication

To successfully implement all these initiatives, utilities will have to collaborate with policy makers, regulators, state and local communities, as well as academia and research organizations. Dependable information gives utilities the intelligence they need to communicate openly and cooperatively with these partners and share data and insights.

The energy transition is challenging, but it’s also creating new opportunities. Innovation and technology can help utilities better manage the growing demand for electricity, mitigate the impact of climate change on grid infrastructure and get to net zero more quickly.

Learn more. Download the brochure on the key takeaways from the Utilities Executive Summit now.