As the traditional grid system ages, governments worldwide are barely keeping up with growing electricity demands. Thanks to recent advances in optimizing technology, power plants built within the last 30 years are now able to reap the benefits of incorporating IoT into their ecosystem. This allows for increased energy production while simultaneously decreasing maintenance and transmission costs. Additionally, with the ability to deliver operational insights, energy companies can monitor, analyze, control, and optimize their facility assets in real time while adjusting for varying levels of energy demand needed during peak and non-peak hours.
In the past, plant automation consisted of numerous siloed systems (from power generation to emission control) which were disconnected and worked independently. Now, with the ability to connect these varying subsystems and achieve interoperability, plant managers are able to have a holistic view of the overall operation and make accurate high-level decisions. Additionally, advanced distribution systems can use real-time data to dynamically respond to changes in load, detect overload, and correct power distribution to enable both safety and economic savings.
Being able to make these high-level decisions instantaneously, increases not only plant efficiency and asset management but also has a significant impact on the end user’s experience. The adoption of smart grid technology by households and whole cities helps monitor and control energy use in real time and optimize it with the best interests of citizens and the environment in mind.