After a restful weekend, Energize 2023 picked up where it left off on Friday. The first four days featured internal subject matter experts highlighting new developments in ANB’s products, as well as glimpses into future solutions. Today’s talks featured accomplished and experienced outside speakers discussing current needs in grid modernization and the importance of automation in distributed generation interconnection. Both speakers generated enthusiastic comments and thoughts from the ANB team.
Up first for Day 5 was Kyle Bradbury PhD [1], of the Duke University Energy Data Laboratory. Dr. Bradbury’s talk focused on new developments in the intersection of machine learning and energy systems. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning in remote sensing, a global assessment of energy infrastructure to meet a sustainable energy[2] future can be made. This information can be used for system planning and demand forecasting. These software systems will provide greater insights into energy infrastructure but cannot be provided through manual efforts. The second speaker was a senior distribution planning manager from a large ANB client. He illustrated the need for greater automation for integrating distributed energy systems as well as potential new electric vehicles to grid applications. In his utility’s service territory, over 2,500 distributed generation applications are received each month. It’s forecasted that in the next few years, millions of electric vehicles will be in their territory and may have the capability to feed energy back into the electric grid. Combined these have the potential to operate as a virtual power plant. To meet this development in the market, manual work processes must be eliminated.
As today’s presenters highlighted, change is rapidly occurring in the energy industry. To meet the needs of todays and future populations, increased automation will be required to integrate these new technologies. Both speakers focused on the need to examine holistically how ANB’s products are being used in their clients’ businesses. Manual work processes will simply be too time-consuming and costly to continue.
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Written by – Michael Stockard
Michael Stockard is an independent consultant at Stockard Energy Advising and is a member of the Advisory Panel at ANB Systems. Michael has over 40 years of experience in the design and implementation of demand-side management programs.
