Powering tomorrow: The human spark behind utility partnerships

Posted: August 26, 2024

Since the dawn of time, human beings have defined themselves through their ability to innovate and adapt. From the first spark of fire through the complex web of our modern power grids, our species has continuously reshaped our shared world. Today, we face possibly our most formidable challenge yet: the race to a net-zero future that ensures stable and reliable power amidst a rapidly-changing climate.

The utility sector stands at the epicenter of this challenge, a testament to both our technological prowess and our responsibility for the planet. At the 2024 AVEVA Utility Executive Summit (UES), Commissioner J. Andrew McAllister crystallized our shared mission: “We can’t leave anyone behind, or we can’t meet our net-zero decarbonization goals.” This isn’t just about upgrading infrastructure; it’s about reimagining our entire approach to energy.

As we navigate this critical juncture, one thing becomes clear: the key to our success lies in the power of partnerships. It was hugely gratifying to hear about the commitment to learnings and intelligence being shared, the combined strengths in pursuit of common goals and the breadth of collaboration taking place. These alliances are the new circuitry powering our path to a sustainable, reliable and resilient power future.

Five partnerships reshaping utility innovation

Here are five prime examples of effective partnerships that demonstrate our progress towards a stable, socially responsible power future — as discussed at the 2024 UES:

• Public-private partnerships (PPP)
  These partnerships are a crucial driver in the utility sector’s transformation. The consensus during the summit was that the challenges we’re facing require collaboration across policymakers, regulatory agencies, utilities, research agencies and universities, and consumers. PPP are also crucial for addressing the complexities of integrating renewable energy sources, managing increasing demand from electric vehicles and data centers, and maintaining grid stability. In 2023 alone, North America brought 56 gigawatts of solar and 17 gigawatts of wind power online, drastically changing grid dynamics. The rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) is making grid stability increasingly challenging, especially during peak demand and generation periods. By combining public sector guidance with private sector innovation, we can accelerate solutions that balance reliability, sustainability, and affordability.
  
  
• Community and tribal partnerships
  Speakers emphasized the importance of community and tribal partnerships throughout the summit as a vital means for ensuring an equitable energy transition. The Tulalip Microgrid Project serves as a prime example of how tribal partnerships can foster energy sovereignty and resilience. It provides secure, greener, and independent power for critical community facilities, including the Gathering Hall, Betty J. Taylor Learning Academy, Health Clinic, and Administration Building. Steve Hinton, representing the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, emphasized the importance of 'small is beautiful' approaches and the need to aggregate change to benefit the community. In this way, utilities can develop more inclusive and effective solutions that respect cultural values and address specific local challenges.
  
  
• Academic-industry collaborations
  These partnerships play a crucial role in shaping the future workforce and driving innovation in the utility sector. For instance, Washington State University's "Power Practicum" program, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, saw participation double last year (I’m confident its catchy slogan "Why go to Cancun for spring break when you can go to a power company?" played a big part in its success!). The program is bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry needs – including integrating DER and meeting advanced forecasting needs. The university's own campus serves as a living laboratory, roviding real-world research opportunities for students and faculty even as it confronts the challenge of becoming carbon-free by 2030 for new buildings and by 2040 for all buildings.
  
  
• Regulatory-utility partnerships
  The summit highlighted the critical need for stronger partnerships between regulators and utilities. As the industry undergoes rapid transformation, regulatory frameworks must evolve to keep pace with technological advancements and changing market dynamics. Collaborative efforts between regulators and utilities can lead to more effective policies that balance innovation with consumer protection and grid reliability. These partnerships are essential for creating a regulatory environment that encourages investment in grid modernization while ensuring fair and affordable access to energy for all consumers. Given the frequent turnover in regulatory and policy-making positions, it's crucial to maintain ongoing education and engagement efforts and ensure that newcomers are quickly brought up to speed on the complex challenges and opportunities facing the utility sector, thereby fostering informed decision-making and consistent, forward-thinking policies.
  
  
• Technology-industry partnerships
  The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in data analytics and AI, is revolutionizing the utility sector. These collaborations are key to developing and implementing the sophisticated tools we need to manage the complexities of a modern, decarbonized grid. To forecast weather, electricity demand and asset availability we need trusted data more than ever. Industry-specific technologies such as grid-edge intelligence, microgrids, advanced distribution management systems (ADMS), outage management systems (OMS), and distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) are crucial for improving grid performance, reliability, and resilience. During the summit, we heard that real-world applications have shown that these partnerships can increase speed-to-market for vital environmental data by 50% and prevent dozens of potential equipment failures annually.

Switching on our collective potential

Just as our ancestors harnessed fire and electricity to transform their world, we are revolutionizing our energy landscape through the power of collaboration. We’re in the midst of a paradigm shift in problem-solving, one that’s as interconnected and dynamic as the grid itself. Once more, our species is exploring, innovating, evolving. As we stand at this critical juncture, our collective ability to collaborate and exchange ideas and insights will determine our success in creating a resilient, efficient, and equitable energy future. For more insights on how data-driven innovation is shaping the utility sector, explore the event summary key learnings and expert takeaways.