pwr_february-2025 - 8

GRID RELIABILITY
Software, Hardware,
Innovation All Needed to
Upgrade the Power Grid
Enhancing the transmission and distribution of electricity is a priority to ensure a reliable
and resilient power supply, as demand increases and grid challenges mount.
Darrell Proctor
roviding more electricity to meet
growing global demand for power
has put a spotlight not only on adding
more generation to the grid, primarily
through construction of new power
plants, but on improvements to the grid
itself. Enhancements to support power
grid reliability include investments for
a variety of technologies, such as battery
energy storage systems (BESS),
advanced transmission lines, smart grid
infrastructure, and distributed generation.
Upgrades also focus on improved
grid monitoring and control systems
that allow for better and faster response
to fluctuations in demand and disruptions
caused by weather, equipment, or
other issues.
" Needed enhancements span across
condition
monitoring,
advanced
data
analytics, fire mitigation, and improved
system control mechanisms, " said John
Russell, senior director, Solution Consulting
at AspenTech, a provider of software
and services for the process industries.
" Reliability in these systems is crucial
not only for preventing downtime but
also for ensuring that power is consistently
delivered to consumers with minimal
disruptions. Specifically, key areas
for enhancement include the implementation
of condition-based maintenance,
improved data collection with smart meters,
AI [artificial intelligence]-powered
asset management, and advanced control
technologies for both transmission
and generation systems. By integrating
modern technologies, these systems
can proactively address failures, optimize
performance, and respond to realtime
conditions. "
" Reliability is central to the modern
power grid, especially as we integrate
more renewables and electrify transportation
and heating. Much work has
been done in generation and distribution,
driven by smarter hardware, predictive
software, and data analytics, " said
8
P
Brandon Young, CEO at Payless Power,
a Texas-based electricity group. " On the
generation side, predictive maintenance
technologies become game-changers.
IoT [Internet of Things] sensors and AI
are monitoring equipment like turbines
and transformers in real time to pinpoint
potential failures before they occur. That
way, downtime is kept to a minimum,
and power generation stays efficient. "
Utilities and grid operators are studying
a variety of ways to improve the reliability
of power generation and delivery, with
data at the heart of much of the research.
" Reliability enhancements should be
approached as a comprehensive, multipronged
strategy that addresses design
concerns and utilizes new and emerging
technologies for improved data analytics, "
said Michael Bennett, chief transformation
officer at Powin, a battery energy
storage company. " Up front, suppliers
need to design and engineer components
with reliability as a core principle.
This includes using advanced materials,
robust designs, and high-quality manufacturing
processes. "
Bennett added, " Ensuring transmission,
distribution, and generation assets
are equipped with IoT sensors for
real-time data collection, monitoring,
and reporting capabilities has become
a core focus over the past few years as
well. These sensors provide operators
with actionable insights into system
performance and potential issues, allowing
them to leverage both cloud and
on-premise data to uncover complex insights,
correlations, and predictions. "
Thomas L. Keefe, vice chair and U.S.
Power, Utilities & Renewables Sector
leader for Deloitte, said, " Increasing visibility
and control through advanced grid
technologies " is a major part of increasing
grid reliability. " Sensors embedded
throughout the network, including smart
meters, automated control systems, and
advanced monitoring tools, can provide
real-time data on energy flow, equipwww.powermag.com
ment
health, and grid stability, " said
Keefe. " Analyzing sensor data can allow
operators to anticipate equipment
failures before they happen, preventing
outages, enhancing the utilization of existing
resources, and ultimately increasing
grid reliability. "
Efficiency a Key Part of Upgrades
Upgrades to transmission infrastructure
(Figure 1) are just part of the work being
done to improve power grids. The need
for maintenance, particularly during a period
of transition to digitization of energy
systems, is evolving as well.
" There are several proactive maintenance
solutions to improve grid reliability,
such as implementing distributed intelligence
[DI] systems for real-time monitoring
and diagnostics, " said Matt Smith,
who leads the global business and product
strategy for the grid management
business at Itron, a global group helping
utilities develop innovative solutions for
their
operations. " Additionally,
predictive
analytics and edge intelligence can
identify trouble spots below the substation,
enabling utilities to automate fault
isolation and repair processes, reducing
the need for manual intervention,
which leads to faster recovery times and
1. Power grids across the U.S. and throughout
the world are in need of upgrades to
handle increased loads. Those enhancements
also are needed to help integrate more renewable
energy resources into electricity transmission
and distribution systems. Courtesy:
Salvatore Ventura / StockSnap
POWER | February 2025

http://www.powermag.com

pwr_february-2025

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