Why do we need smart grids?
In contrast with what Donald Trump wants us to believe – that global warming is a concept created by the Chinese to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive – global warming is in fact real. According to NASA, the average global temperature has risen 1.7 degrees since 1880 and the volume of arctic ice decreases with 13.3% every decade. These alarming facts are the result of our ever-increasing consumption of fossil fuels, which doesn’t seem to flatten out in the near future. Between 2008 and 2035 the global energy demand is estimated to increase by 53%. Since fossil fuels are running out we need to find ways to reduce our fossil fuel needs.
The solution is twofold; on the one hand we should find alternative sources of energy and on the other hand we should use our energy more efficiently. In this blogpost we focus on the latter part of the solution. To increase energy efficiency on a large scale, the application of technology is necessary to improve the way we generate, distribute and consume energy. Allover the world smart grids consisting of sensors, metering solutions and energy management systems are being deployed. These smart grids generate a huge variety of data sets that, when analyzed, allows for better management and efficient use of precious natural resources as well as capital assets. This is where big data comes into play.
What is big data?
Big data is a term for data sets that are so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate to deal with them. According to McAfee (2012) big data analysis differs from the traditional analysis in three ways. Firstly, the volume of big data sets is several orders of magnitude higher. Walmart, for example collects 2.5 petabytes (that is 2,5 million gigabytes) of customer data every hour. Secondly, the velocity or speed of information creation and processing is increased. Big data analysis systems are often analyzing real-time data and producing direct results. Rapid insights as these can provide competitive advantages. Thirdly, the variety of the data sources is increased, for example sensor-data, messages from social networks, GPS-signals from cellphones. These three differences make big data a very successful and powerful tool to gain insights into consumer and system behavior.
How does big data help to increase grid efficiency?
The application of big data in smart grids increase the efficient use of energy in two ways.
The first way relates to the behavior of the system as a whole. By closely monitoring the energy production, distribution and usage of the entire grid, the energy companies can manage their grid in near real-time. This improves the forecasts for the future and the responsiveness of the system to real time changes in energy needs. Therefore, the system will behave more efficiently.
The second way relates to the behavior of individual consumers. By tracking individual energy usage, companies gain insight in the way energy is consumed. Companies can offer tariffs tailored to specific customers at a large scale to incentivize them to use less energy or use energy at a different time. The influencing of customer behavior to promote stable energy usage increases the efficiency of the system.
By applying big data to energy grids, efficiency is improved and the overall energy usage is reduced. This helps us as humanity to face the challenges posed by our increasing energy need and the effects of global warming.
Sources:
McAfee, A., and Brynjolfsson, E. 2012. Big Data: The Management Revolution. Harvard
Business Review 90(10) 60-68.
NASA: Climate Change and Global Warming. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2016, from http://climate.nasa.gov/
Rose, A. (2014, August 08). How big data is about to ignite smart grids worldwide … Retrieved October 23, 2016, from https://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/08/08/big-data-transform-smart-grids-worldwide
Trump, D. J. (n.d.). Donald J. Trump on Twitter: “The concept of global warming … Retrieved October 23, 2016, from https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/265895292191248385
