Wednesday 12 October 2016

Data analytics ‘key for low carbon and flexible energy system’

Data analytics need to be more visible if a low carbon and flexible energy system is to be achieved.

That’s the view of Rich Hampshire, Smart Grid and IoT (Internet of Things) Director at CGI who was speaking at the SAS Energy Forum conference in London yesterday.

He talked about the main drivers that are changing the energy system and boosting the need of data analytics, highlighting the Paris Agreement reached in December which is expected to be ratified by the UK by the end of this year.

Mr Hampshire said the system must be more flexible as countries need to "significantly" reduce their carbon emissions by replacing old power stations with new clean technologies and cope with the rise in electricity demand, which is expected to peak by 2030.

That’s why data analytics need to be "more visible" to shift the mentality of “how much energy we use to when we need it”, he added.

He pointed out the need to transform “a passive network operator” to an “active network operator as a neutral market facilitator encouraging technological innovation on both the supply side and demand side and ensuring equitable access to services”.

Mr Hampshire said: “The adoption of digital technologies deeper into the infrastructure provides greater visibility of insight into and control over the active operation of the assets.

“This can include access to and use of grid connected generation and storage and the use of demand side flexibility, including micro generation and storage beyond the meter, to actively manage the operation of the infrastructure in near real time.”

Yesterday, Tim Fairchild, Director of Global Energy Practice at data analytics company SAS told ELN data analytics can also help utilities deliver cleaner, more reliable and affordable power to domestic customers.

Demand side response, self generation and storage are among the topics being discussed at Energy Live 2016. There are limited free tickets for energy end users, grab yours now to avoid disappointment.