Utilities Tech Outlook : News

Bangkok, Thailand , - Enlit Asia has successfully concluded its Thailand Roadshow, focused on "Catalyzing Thailand’s Green Energy Transition." Held in Bangkok at Tilleke & Gibbins’ office on April 30, 2024, the event witnessed over 200 registered attendees, with a full house onsite. Woranon Chansiri, Director of the International Affairs Division at the Ministry of Energy, Thailand, emphasized Thailand's commitment to sustainable energy. He urged collaboration and innovation to overcome obstacles and achieve environmental goals, highlighting the importance of partnerships for driving sustainable solutions. Chansiri's address served as a call to action for stakeholders to unite for a greener energy future. Supasit Boonsanong, Partner and Head of Energy at Tilleke & Gibbins, delved into Thailand's energy outlook, spotlighting initiatives such as the National Energy Plan (NEP) 2024. He outlined the plan's goals and emphasized emerging technologies like Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Boonsanong also addressed the New Renewable and Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) 2024, including hydrogen as a significant alternative, alongside pilot projects, incentives, and support mechanisms to facilitate its adoption. Chatchai Mawong, Assistant Governor of Power Plant Engineering and Construction of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) delivered a compelling discourse on EGAT's strategic efforts toward a sustainable energy paradigm. He outlined EGAT's pivotal role and steadfast commitment to carbon neutrality, emphasising key statistics such as EGAT's Installed Generating Capacity of 16,920.32 MW, 38,666.65 Circuit-km transmission line, power purchase contract capacity of 32,178.48 MW, and an investment of 43,317.71 million Baht across 7 affiliates in electricity generation and energy-related ventures. Additionally, the event featured a high-level panel discussion, comprising luminaries from various sectors: Dr. Worpong Sinsukthavorn, Senior Vice President – Corporate Planning, Electricity Generating Public Company Limited (EGCO) Tawatchai Sumranwanich, Assistant Governor - Power Plant Planning, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) Pongsakorn Yuthagovit, Assistant Governor, Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) David Maclean, Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific, Landis+Gyr Eugene Loke, Managing Director, APAC, Trilliant Networks These esteemed panellists engaged in profound deliberations on crucial topics including energy security, grid stability, renewable energy frameworks, and technological innovations. Enlit Asia extends its gratitude to event sponsors Trilliant and Landis+Gyr for their support and collaboration in making this event a success. In closing, Chansiri extended his gratitude to all esteemed speakers and participants for their invaluable contributions and invited them to converge at the forthcoming Enlit Asia event scheduled for 8-10 October 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to continue advancing the cause of sustainable energy. ...Read more

The utility industry is expanding its operational capacity to solve challenges by implementing smart grid technology and mitigating power outages through automation. Electric utilities are increasingly focusing on how automation and artificial intelligence can enhance operations within the electric grid, particularly concerning the complicated distribution system as it evolves and modernizes with technology. Utility workers could use artificial intelligence to cull through data from equipment sensors and identify patterns or trends that may indicate maintenance needs. An automated system would set up devices that trigger themselves when certain criteria are met, such as recloses and switches. Due to the human intervention and design involved, the systems are subject to flaws in their development. Utility engineering companies are increasingly integrating automation. The following trends highlight automated capabilities in the utility industry. Transitioning to automation: A larger transition to smart grid technologies encouraged the electric department's transition to automation. Engineers working on the smart grid upgrade identified aging feeder breakers that needed to be replaced and optimized by integrating automation. An automated recloser was installed on a ring bus of feeders that formed an area around one of the city's commercial districts. Since implementing the automatic system, engineers have found that automation helps improve recovery time. Automation also helps with switching, which now requires fewer field personnel. As outages are rare, the benefits of automation stem from easier access to system data daily. Distribution automation system: Utility companies are looking to incorporate distribution automation schemes in their systems. The distribution automation system uses a real-time automation controller and automated reclosers that engineers connect through a high-speed fiber optic system. Several utility companies collaborate to develop equipment and system specifications and to program to integrate automation properly. Several manufacturing centers throughout these companies' territory were affected by power outages caused by fault conditions before implementing automation schemes. If a fault occurs within the manufacturing complex, the system can immediately isolate just the affected section of the complex while retaining the power to the remainder of the complex. The other centers and the system will experience minimal power disruption due to automated setups. Engineers coordinate timed overcurrent elements with downstream recloser controllers through distribution relays. Trip logic for distribution relays includes phase-time and ground-time overcurrents, instantaneous overcurrent relay elements, and automation controller trip commands. Engineers determine the appropriate relay response by evaluating several programmed equations based on the tagging relay and the reclosing shot bit status. ...Read more

From the operation of electrical grids to the concealed water flow beneath urban environments, utility systems constitute the fundamental framework that supports modern life. However, the era in which these networks were static infrastructures overseen by human operators is experiencing profound transformation. The emerging paradigm is characterized by integrating digital technologies, prompting utility providers to reevaluate the management, distribution, and optimization of essential services such as energy and water. This transformation enhances reliability and efficiency and fosters sustainability and responsiveness within utility landscapes, aligning them with contemporary demands. The most significant advancement in the utilities sector is adopting advanced metering infrastructure. This technology delivers precise, quantitative, and real-time reports on utilities' provision and consumption, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of usage patterns. Rather than relying on monthly supply reports, utility providers can detect anomalies, leaks, or outages as they occur. This enhanced visibility improves response times and strengthens the system's overall reliability. Additionally, consumers benefit from increased awareness of their consumption habits, which fosters conservation efforts and promotes informed decision-making. Grid Modernization and Predictive Maintenance Modernizing the grid has emerged as the signature digital transformation in the energy context. Advanced sensors and automation promise to evolve a responsive, self-healing grid that delivers power through alternate channels in case of failures. Data from substations, transformers, and other vital points are collected and sent to a machine learning algorithm so that a point in time can be predicted when failure will occur. This reactivity is applied to predictive maintenance, minimizing downtime and reducing the costs of repairing the utility infrastructure's resilience. As demand continues to rise, these smarter grids will be able to meet the needs of multipurpose consumers while better-scouting future renewable alternatives. One cannot overemphasize the role of data in shaping the future of utilities. Digital platforms process massive amounts of data on managing demand peaks and forecasting energy loads. With the help of artificial intelligence applications, utility providers can analyze these patterns to improve operational efficiency while broadening planning. Geographic information systems, weather models for prediction, and historical performance data come together to give a whole view of system behavior and allow more strategic infrastructure investments and better preparedness against extreme weather or other disruptions. Digital Customer Engagement Platforms Certainly and understandably, customer aspirations have grown with technology, and this is where utilities enter to provide digital solutions, increasing customer transparency and control. Mobile apps and online dashboards give users access to usage monitoring, target setting, and personalized advice, improving satisfaction and reducing service costs as in-person visitations or contact center needs become obsolete. They can also enhance energy efficiency and sustainability. The most sophisticated innovations in utilities improve energy efficiency and sustainability. As global priorities shift toward environmental accountability, digital technology is one-way utilities can express these values. Intelligent solutions enable the integration of these types of resources, even as solar panels and battery storage are added to the distributed sources. In their conservation efforts, digital tools will include intelligent leak detection and precise irrigation controls. Innovation is necessary, and resilient and adaptive utility systems are already being built to serve communities while caring for the planet. ...Read more