Utilities Tech Outlook Weekly Brief
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Transmission and distribution (T&D) of electricity have evolved step by step over more than 100 years. The current use of digital technologies for construction, maintenance, and monitoring provides huge opportunities to build cost-effective, efficient, and more reliable T&D lines.
FREMONT, CA: Multiple nations' current electric power supply systems rely on already deteriorating transmission and distribution networks. This infrastructure reflects technological advancements made in the 1950s, which also struggle to keep up with the rising demand of today. Approximately 40 to 45 per cent of T&D assets either need to be replaced now or shortly, necessitating substantial investments on both the transmission and distribution fronts. Among the most distributed assets owned by electric power, providers are overhead T&D lines. Even in isolated locations, these T&D cables span several miles, making monitoring and inspection work extremely difficult for utilities to complete. In the past, inspection teams would travel to the T&D lines' locations to check for problems or conduct routine inspections once or twice a year. Even though this task is crucial from the utility's point of view, it can be time-consuming and expensive. The spread of remote generating and renewable energy sources has created several problems for the electrical system, including instability. Renewable energy sources, like wind energy, are intermittent, and maintaining a consistent supply of electricity for consumers is a difficult issue for grid operators. Additionally, these sources have brought operations closer to the limits of grid stability and increased the demand for the grid system.
Modern digital technology can assist in resolving issues that T&D industries are facing. Utilities around the world have accepted these technologies, and they are now being applied in various contexts. The following are some instances of digital technology that can help the T&D sector overcome obstacles. Systems built on artificial intelligence can make the most use of vast volumes of weather data to expand the capacity of power networks. Depending on the weather, it may lead to improved usage of the current lines. The power grid system's efficiency, dependability, and safety can all be enhanced with AI. The AR/VR goggles that engineers have access to can be utilised to conduct a virtual site tour. This can be done by going into a station and communicating with stakeholders remotely through web streaming, which can assist in carrying out different design tasks.
To maintain the expected global GDP growth rate until 2035, countries must invest USD 3.7 trillion in economic network infrastructure each year. According to this estimate, the investment needed for the electrical industry's value chain alone accounts for almost 30 per cent of the entire investment. These expenditures are crucial for resolving issues with ageing asset health, like substations, gridlines, etc., that the T&D sector is facing. Modern digital technology can successfully guide the T&D industry over several obstacles that could improve operational effectiveness and result in cost savings over time. These technologies have also been able to contribute to making workplaces safer for employees, which has increased productivity. In the changing environment that has been dominated by the integration of renewable energies, the growing share of EVs in total vehicle sales, penetration of distributed energy sources, etc., technologies including AI, digital twin, machine learning, etc. are also providing opportunities for utilities to disrupt their business model and create value for the end customers.
