The energy transition is exciting, but it won’t be easy – especially for network operators. For them, the transition brings new expectations from customers and investors, and serious disruption across a value chain that’s getting more complex.
Dealing with these changes calls for a dynamic approach to network management – a worry for an industry built on stability. For those bold enough to change, though, there are new opportunities where generation, grid management, and demand intersect. One way for utilities across the value chain to find these potential sources of value is through digitization. Creating a layered service stack that includes hardware and software frameworks can create a host of new services and solutions.
Seeing system strength clearly
Trying to bring renewables onto the grid is a good example of changing demand and the complexity it can cause. To an outsider, switching from fossil fuels to renewables is a straight swap. But it’s a tricky process. One issue is that replacing traditional generation with renewables reduces the “parachute” of system strength: the power system’s ability to maintain the correct voltage waveforms (high system strength improves the grid’s resilience to disturbances). It’s such a critical concern that many DSOs choose not to add renewable capacity because their existing models have overly simplistic assumptions about […]
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Source: Accenture
