During the second half of the 19th century, widespread access to electrical power laid the groundwork for the modern world we inhabit. Its impact on industry was far-reaching, enabling the creation of novel goods and services, and dramatically altering our way of life. Today, it’s hard to fathom what our existence would look like without this pivotal invention.
Given the tremendous room for growth in the realm of energy production and utilization, it’s no wonder that many brilliant minds are pursuing more efficient methods. The fact remains that we rely heavily on archaic and environmentally harmful power plants, our energy use is inefficient and contributes to climate change, and we are constantly in need of more power to meet our expanding needs.
To address these challenges, innovators across the globe are constantly experimenting with new energy technologies and sustainable practices.
At Works, we believe that promoting and supporting these initiatives is paramount to creating a more sustainable future.
If you are interested in learning about environmentally-friendly technologies, click here to read more on the subject.
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, it’s no surprise that scientists are looking towards cutting-edge solutions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain to tackle energy-related challenges. These modern technologies have the potential to bring about a seismic shift in how we generate energy, maintain systems, manage power grids, and consume energy in homes by integrating all of these components together.
At Works, we recognise the immense potential of these technologies and are committed to incorporating them into our initiatives towards establishing a more sustainable future.
If you want to learn more about AI and IoT, you can follow the links here and here.
Now, we’ll delve into how these technologies are transforming the energy industry and charting a course towards more streamlined energy production, distribution, and consumption.
How AI is Revolutionizing the Energy Industry
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to gain traction across various industries, its integration into the energy sector seems like a natural progression. By leveraging the power of AI-driven platforms, operators, distributors, and consumers alike can glean valuable insights into their own energy consumption practices, as well as those of others, paving the way for a multitude of transformative changes in the industry.
Some noteworthy examples include:
Efficient Energy Generation:
AI is already making a significant impact on the energy sector, with several practical use cases already in existence. For instance, the oil and gas sector could benefit from AI-powered adaptive controllers that provide optimization recommendations based on historical and current data analysis. Moreover, Chevron has already started utilizing AI to identify the optimal locations for future well development. Additionally, the wind and solar power industry can leverage AI programs for accurate weather predictions that can lead to increased output during periods of lower wind or cloud cover. To learn more about collaborative robots, click here.Better Dispersion:
With the help of AI algorithms, grid operators can now assess the various factors that affect both energy supply and consumption. These algorithms can accurately predict energy demand, identify potential issues across the grid, and generate recommendations to address any weaknesses in the distribution line. In doing so, they account for variables such as changing weather conditions, fluctuations in demand, equipment failures, and end-user energy usage.Minimized Energy Waste:
Homeowners can use AI technology to monitor and analyse their energy usage. Energy-saving solutions like Verv’s extend beyond traditional smart meters and are designed to identify energy-intensive appliances and their corresponding expenses. By making necessary adjustments based on Verv’s insights, customers can significantly reduce their energy consumption, potentially saving up to 10% on their energy bills.Enhanced Maintenance Scheduling:
Just like in other industries, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can predict potential equipment failures due to regular usage and aid in generating optimal maintenance plans in the energy sector. By analyzing data collected from strategically placed sensors within the production and distribution network, AI can facilitate preventative maintenance on any part of the grid in need of attention, increasing its lifespan and significantly reducing the likelihood of costly power outages.Autonomous Production:
Experts predict that in the future, wind and solar farms can operate without any human intervention, revolutionizing the energy industry’s use of Artificial Intelligence. This progress can be accelerated, and farms can operate 24/7, by utilizing autonomous vehicles and AI robots.
The Internet of Things (IoT) in the Energy Industry
The term “Internet of Energy” (IoE) often refers to the implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the energy sector, which has the potential to enhance efficiency and reduce energy waste on a global scale. To unlock this potential, IoT devices and sensors must be strategically positioned throughout the electrical system. Two particularly promising areas of improvement are:
Real-time Reaction to Fluctuating Energy Demands:
Excessive energy waste across the electricity grid remains one of the energy industry’s primary concerns. To effectively monitor fluctuations in energy usage, power plants can install Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in distribution lines and residential or commercial buildings. By doing so, they can adjust energy output in anticipation of peak energy demands and eliminate unnecessary waste of renewable energy sources, minimizing the possibility of power outages.Balancing Energy Demand and Supply:
With the ongoing advancement of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, more devices are being developed to aid users in reducing their energy consumption. Smart thermostats can identify and adjust to a user’s preferences, while appliances like washing machines are designed to run only when certain energy sources are available. Additionally, modern refrigerators can monitor their own power consumption and notify users when they exceed a set threshold. When used in tandem, these features collaborate to establish a stable and more efficient energy demand from end-users.
The extensive incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is essential to achieve Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions. Data collected from sensors placed throughout the manufacturing and distribution processes, as well as in end-users’ devices, is critical to analyze and produce AI-based enhancements. Therefore, integrating various cutting-edge technologies creates more intelligent energy systems, rather than simply adding them together.
The Energy Industry’s Utilisation of Blockchain Technology
Although some individuals may dismiss blockchain technology as a fad or consider it to be overly complicated with no tangible applications in the energy industry, the estimated value of blockchain applications within the sector is projected to reach $25 billion by 2024. This represents a five-fold increase from current values, underlining the energy industry’s significant potential to benefit from the implementation of distributed ledger technology.
The following factors make it clear why:
Security Concerns of Energy Networks:
As the digitization of the nation’s power infrastructure grows increasingly complex, energy providers are resorting to blockchain technology for managing the abundance of data generated by the widespread adoption of IoT devices and Artificial Intelligence solutions. By using blockchain’s distributed and encrypted ledger, providers can guarantee the safety of their accumulated data against any form of theft, tampering, or modification. In today’s digital context, where providers must rely on the security of their data, this approach is logical.The Advancement and Launch of Microgrids:
Microgrids are minor-scale electricity networks that interconnect users who produce their own energy from renewable sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, to the larger power grid. Employing blockchain technology, these microgrids can simplify the process of selling any excess energy generated by those customers and provide swifter and more secure payments. The objective is to promote the adoption of renewable energy sources and foster the gradual decentralization of the electricity sector.Promoting Renewable Energy Projects:
The incorporation of blockchain technology in the energy sector offers a number of benefits to businesses and investors. It can facilitate the development of more environmentally friendly projects and provide business owners with opportunities to network with potential investors. For those inclined to invest in renewable energy projects leveraging blockchain technology, Greeneum is an outstanding choice. Its main objective is to ensure that worthy initiatives receive adequate funding while maintaining financial transactions transparently and honestly.Advancements in the Commerce of Refined Goods:
Reconciling the numerous transactions associated with oil and gas product trading requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders, resulting in a complex process. This process could be expedited significantly if all stakeholders had simultaneous access to a blockchain-based ledger, enabling rapid and accurate reconciliation of critical data, such as volumes and pricing. This would lead to more efficient supply chain management and improve operations.
Concluding Thoughts
With the effects of climate change becoming increasingly evident and the global population growth driving up energy demand, the need for a more efficient energy system is growing. In response, companies are investing in advanced technologies to enhance their manufacturing and distribution processes, while consumers are being urged to modify their behaviour at home.
As Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain technologies are increasingly being employed to confront the current challenges, a variety of exciting concepts and innovative notions are coming into fruition. Although some of these ideas may still be in the nascent stages of development, it is unmistakable that technology has the ability to provide solutions to even the most urgent issues, such as the worldwide energy crisis.
