Five ways that data is enabling the green energy transition
As the global community contends with the increasing impacts of climate change, it’s unquestionable that the transition to green energy will play a vital role in the quest for net zero. Society is looking to governments, regulators and businesses to deliver a smooth and secure energy transition while enabling wider economic growth.
In the UK, energy regulator Ofgem recently published a multi-year vision and roadmap for building the green energy system of the future. The key tenets of this plan are to maintain high customer standards and trust, ensure well-planned infrastructure that is delivered on time, and to maximize innovation and efficiency to achieve net zero at the lowest possible cost. This is not solely about decarbonization, but transforming operations, business models and customer services.
So, with such an ambitious transition necessary to achieve net zero, how can it be accomplished? Clearly, it will require massive new investments in intelligent assets and infrastructure, which must be implemented while minimizing the impact to customers in terms of cost, choice or service levels.
In parallel, UK utility National Grid is undertaking “The Great Grid Upgrade” — the largest overhaul of the UK's electricity grid in generations. With the shift to renewable sources and increasing demand for EV charging, there is a greater need for accurate, transparent and timely data. More than ever before, data is driving project planning, decision making and the delivery of service to customers.
Let’s look at five critical ways that data is accelerating the shift to a more fair, secure, efficient and flexible green energy system.
1. Shared sustainability roadmaps and measurement.
Organizations have made important net zero commitments, but making fast-enough progress is more difficult. Often the problem is knowing exactly what to measure and how to influence the necessary change. The move to solar and wind power and demand for EV charging represents both a great opportunity and a major challenge. It will require close collaboration across different supply chains and with multiple regional and international partners. Data transparency is key, as is selecting sustainability partners who have a strong net-zero track record and innovative solutions to share. Digital tools are essential; for example, digital twins that can be used to achieve measurable decarbonization outcomes.
2. Unlocking the value of trusted data
Advanced data analytics enable ever more self-optimized, predictive and pre-emptive operations, for instance improving business efficiency and worker safety. More needs to be done to create the backbone for data sharing across the green energy supply chain, with suppliers, distributors, partners and consumers. Evidence-based decision-making depends on a single version of truth to achieve operational and strategic objectives. Clear stakeholder accountability is key, as is the trust and openness required to share data.
As the global community contends with climate change, the green energy transition is vital to achieve net zero. The shift to renewable sources and increasing EV demand are driving a greater need for accurate, transparent and timely data.
3. Leveraging IT/OT convergence
Information Technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) are converging rapidly. The latest energy generation and distribution equipment is rife with embedded sensors, which adds complexity to an already complex ecosystem. To optimize logical and physical assets, companies must integrate ever-expanding volumes of data from both the OT and IT domains. These differ vastly and have traditionally stayed separate. Unlike today’s increasingly standardized IT environments, OT networks utilize proprietary protocols and standards. However, there is a wealth of data on the OT side that can help optimize energy delivery; the secret is in harnessing it effectively. That’s why energy companies need specialist know-how and new solutions to create and leverage a seamless IT/OT data flow. Without it, the pace and scale of transformation will be limited.
4. Human-centric approach to customers
The key to successful system and service design is a laser focus on the customer experience. What does the end user need at every touchpoint? How can we engage multiple stakeholders to deliver a single, people-focused vision? Again, data is critical — understanding what consumers want, knowing how they use energy, recognizing the signs of experience degradation, and monitoring in real-time what’s working and what isn’t. This is about recognizing transformation as a cultural shift, understanding customer behavior and sentiment, and providing them with data that enables them to have agency and accountability for their own energy consumption. Ultimately, the goal is to enable consumers to play a greater role as responsible ‘prosumers’ in the green energy system.
5. Enabling wider and deeper collaboration
When stakeholders are siloed or distant, delays will occur, costs will increase, and critical opportunities will be missed. Given the scale of this transformation, sharing data in the form of knowledge, research, proofs of concept and turnkey solutions is vital – between energy companies, between partners, and globally. Hydrogen hubs are a good example, with many different countries working to harness hydrogen as a clean, low-carbon source of energy. Equally important are trusted long-term relationships with sustainable partners who share the same Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) values. This creates synergies, amplifying positive climate, diversity and social impacts and accelerating progress towards our common goals.
While the challenges of this transformation are immense, so too are the opportunities. Working together, regulators, energy companies and their supply chain and transformation partners can create a carbon-neutral energy system that powers sustainable communities, businesses and homes. It’s an ambitious vision, but it’s never been more important. Now is the time to be bold.
Learn how Atos is working with our network of partners and innovators to enable the green energy transition.
Posted on: August 8, 2024
