Is the Electricity Grid Increasingly unreliable? Change the scenario with the latest solution
Introduction
Electricity demand has seen a significant surge globally in the past decade creating remarkable change in major markets, escalating prices of electricity to unprecedented levels, and rising the power sector’s carbon emissions sharply.
Efficient and reliable electricity supply is essential for developed countries, the demand for electricity in developed countries is huge to meet the requirements of commercial, automobile, and other industries.
With the electrification of the automobile industry, digitalization, air conditioning, and heavy usage of electricity in other modern electrical appliances the demand for electricity is increasing and will be ever-increasing.
The electricity Grid and its Assets are under tremendous stress because of changing demand-supply patterns and increased supply-side uncertainties. EV Charging stations and DERs (Distributed Energy Resources) are going to change the way we have been managing the reliability of the grid.
Thanks to the most popular solar and wind energy which has gained significant recognition among all the other renewable energy sources in recent times to meet the electricity growth while generating clean energy. Meeting electricity requirements and finding a steady transition from conventional energy sources to non-conventional energy sources has become a major challenge for the electrical grid. A wide-scale transition to non-conventional energy sources and the ever-increasing electricity requirement has created an imbalance between supply and demand, which in turn is challenging the power system flexibility and integration of the non-conventional energy sources with the grid—source: International Energy Agency (IEA).
Let’s Understand if we have adequate power, and for how long?
Understanding changes in electricity demand and their impact on load forecasting is essential to maintaining the reliable operation of the grid.
Having insights into the nature of electricity demand, variability and generation are more important to having a reliable electricity grid system than only understanding the total demand. Global electricity production has raised every year continuously since 1974, except during 2008 and 2009 when the global financial crisis had reduced demand. IEA report states that after a small drop in 2020, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, global electricity demand grew up by 6% in 2021. In the APS (Announced Pledges scenario), electricity demand increases from around 23,300 TWh in 2020 with an average annual growth rate of 2.3% over the previous decade to about 30,300 TWh by 2030, an increase of 30%, the Asia Pacific region being the major consumer.
The global electricity demand is expected to increase to 60 000 TWh in 2050 in the NZE with an average increase of 3.2% per year. Emerging market and developing economies account for 75% of the projected global increase in electricity demand to 2050. It is projected that the electricity generation capacity must increase three times the present value to put the world on track. The renewable energy market is also projected to grow three times compared to the present generation capacity. Faster growth of the renewable energy market can be achieved soon, but it is associated with a major challenge of grid integration.
Need For New and Renewable Energy Sources and its Integration with Grid
Renewable energy sources (Solar, Wind, Hydro Power, BioEnergy, Concentrated Solar Power, Geothermal, and Ocean Energy) are the backbone of the energy transition to ensure a smooth way to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Technological development has brought in a severe demand for electricity, and now the demand is set to increase even more with the rapid rise of automation of industries and the automobile industry. Coal and nuclear energy are still the dominant resources used to produce electricity, despite the growing concern of global warming and the emission of hazardous wastes and gases. However, it is understood that depleting fossil fuels will not be able to meet the world’s total energy requirement in the long run, and renewable energy sources must be utilized to meet the up-trending demand.
Integrating renewable energy sources with the grid is critical to maintaining grid stability. Also, the electricity grid is going through a major transformation as the suppliers are locally building renewable power plants and distributing power at lower tariffs compared to grid prices.
As the electricity generated from renewable energy sources depends on environmental changes, it is a challenge for the grid operators to maintain the equilibrium and meet the demands due to its variable generation. New and emerging concepts with asset management technology based on data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) play a significant role and help the grid operators to ensure a steady and continuous balance between power demand and supply.
Need for Asset Monitoring Systems
The integration of evolving alternative energy sources and increasing demand have created a concern that the electrical assets which are in use for the past 50 years may retire soon. Creating further stress and strain on these assets are going to put more challenges on the grid. Grid operators are continuously looking for the most advanced multi-site multi asset online monitoring systems, through which they can understand the health of the complete fleet across multiple locations, analyze the performance, criticality, failure, and expected life of the electrical assets which can help the users to take up action before there is any serious fault. A comprehensive asset performance management system is an available solution to monitor and generate maintenance priorities and take appropriate decisions on asset replacement.
We at Rugged Monitoring have developed an AI-based comprehensive electrical asset condition monitoring system “RMEYE” with multiple analytical capabilities in asset condition monitoring that stands way apart in technological advancement. RMEYE is a versatile condition monitoring solution that can offer a comprehensive analysis of various electrical assets spread across multiple industries. It considers every aspect in condition monitoring of different assets like a transformer, cable, GIS, AIS, motor, generator, UPS, VFD, MV panel, battery, relays, etc, and users to give the best recommendation for longer and better health of the assets. With the new updated On-Prem & Cloud solution, it is an infinitely scalable condition monitoring system that can provide detailed reporting that you require for a smooth operation of your industry.
Plan Wisely for a Bright Future....
Grid stability is critical for the seamless operations of the power system; the flowing solar and wind energy into the grid and a desire to decommission the fossil fuel-based power plants is increasing the complexity of electricity grids.
Efficient management of utility assets and digitalization plays a vital role in making power generating assets more efficient and thereby improving the grid stability.
Addressing the grid stability and energy transition would transform the world energy system profoundly. Harnessing renewable energy to meet the policies, COP26 global climate goals, and access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is essential for all people worldwide.
There is no one solution leading to the path towards reducing carbon emissions while strengthening the grid, Grid stability must be achieved with a mutual balance between carbon emissions and grid strengthening measures making the electricity grid fit for future opportunities.
Several innovative measures are in progress to stabilize the electricity grid. For instance, a lot of research and development is taking place to implement Smart Grid, AI/ML Based Intelligent Asset Monitoring Systems, Energy and Demand Management Systems, and Outage Management systems. Asset-based condition monitoring solutions to strengthen the electricity grid.
How does RMEYE Help Users?
RMEYE is a comprehensive condition-based monitoring solution helping to build a more flexible and resilient electricity grid. Integrating RMEYE in the power generation plants, within the fleet, in Transmission & Distribution network will make the grid more reliable while providing sustainable electric power to communities worldwide.
- Real-Time Condition Based Monitoring of electrical assets across the complete value chain, from power generation, transmission, distribution, and demand, will provide an overall view of the complete network enabling the next level of network optimization.
- RM EYE enables users to optimally utilize the electrical assets in the network as the advanced monitoring system has the potential to identify early symptoms of issues that, if ignored, could lead to expensive, unplanned downtime.
- RMEYE an IoT and AI-based condition monitoring system offers health analytics of the complete fleet across multiple locations helping companies to plan the maintenance strategy in a more informed manner.
- With complete asset data at one location, the user will be able to closely monitor the assets which are in continuous operation for decades and analyze their performance, additionally also take precautionary actions to increase the expected lifetime.
- Realtime Remote monitoring and diagnostic system with advanced cybersecurity and alarm system enable the operators to monitor the assets 24x7 accessible from anywhere.
Digitalization is advancing at a rapid speed, but this is just the beginning of it. We at Rugged Monitoring believe that the value chain of electrical assets from power plants, transmission, and distribution lines to the electrical assets of the end-users should work in harmony to deliver reliable, low-cost, and sustainable energy.
With our advanced asset monitoring software “RMEYE” at a glance, get valuable insights to ease the decision-making process,
to drive your asset maintenance and management strategies for realizing a future autonomous energy system that makes power systems more reliable, sustainable, and affordable for everyone.
Rugged Monitoring Services
Rugged Monitoring provides customization of sensors, monitors & software. In addition, we offer on-site commissioning services, maintenance contracts, and technical support to all customers worldwide.
About Rugged Monitoring
Industry’s leading team of asset condition monitoring experts with 100+ years of combined experience committed to delivering customizable solutions for challenging applications. We offer a range of reliable, high-performance, customizable sensors and monitoring solutions that are immune to external influence.