Digital Foundation; providing the necessary vision and tools to enable a connected energy landscape

Abstract

Gartner predicted that by 2021, half of large industrial companies will use digital twins, resulting in those organisations gaining a 10% improvement in effectiveness.Innovation and digitalization are key to this major cultural change. By implementing the latest remote sensing technologies, combined with cloud computing, automation, artificial intelligence, immersive visualisations, and advanced data analytics, a 4D digital foundation can be built. This foundation is fundamental for the grid of today and the future.This paper explores the 4D digital foundation applied specifically to asset management challenges faced in the distribution of electricity through overhead assets. Sophisticated, deep-learning, computer algorithms can automatically identify and quantify change in timeframes that are a fraction of those achieved through traditional human-based methods and does not include the inevitability of human error or bias. An almost infinite number of scenarios can be modelled to determine outcomes by quickly running complex simulations on extremely large datasets to detect the change environment around a utility network. This digital approach to asset management and operations will result in reducing operating expenditure, streamlining works delivery and optimising capital investment programs. It has been proven to improve risk management, safety, network performance, resilience and disaster response, customer service and strategy execution. Moreover, it supports the integration of distributed renewable energy resources and economic dispatch of energy, while fostering collaboration and seeding innovation across the enterprise.