As electric utilities around the world rebalance their power generation portfolios in favor of renewable energy sources, the demands of a rapidly changing climate are requiring them to do much more. Beyond adding renewable generation or retiring carbon-polluting energy sources, utilities must operate their grids much differently in order to achieve increasingly aggressive decarbonization targets.

Decarbonization – precisely what is it and why utilities should be concerned?

There seem to be a wide range of terms being used interchangeably when we talk of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and reducing our carbon footprint. While in practice decarbonization, carbon neutrality, net zero, are used interchangeably, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides a clear definition for each term.

Net-zero emissions encompasses all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but also refers to balancing the emitted GHGs with the removed GHGs within a specifies time period.

Carbon neutrality technically reflects only carbon. According to the European Parliament, climate – or carbon – neutrality is achieved when “the same amount of carbon dioxide is emitted (CO2) into the atmosphere as it is removed by different means, achieving a zero balance, also known as a zero carbon footprint.”

Decarbonization is the process by which countries, individuals, or other entities aim to achieve zero fossil carbon existence. For the power sector, it means reducing the emissions per unit of electricity generated thus reducing the carbon intensity.

With a 25 percent share of all carbon emissions globally, electric utilities play a crucial role in achieving a low carbon future. Renewable Energy World explains a few specific ways electric utilities can reach low-carbon emissions: “To meet carbon neutrality goals, utilities will need to deploy multiple strategies such as carbon capture, cap-and-trade, and investing in lower-carbon energy sources and technologies.”

Cleaning up the electricity sector is the key to economy-wide decarbonization, and electric utilities have a large role to play in making sure we are on the path toward a livable future. While achieving a low carbon economy is no doubt a significantly ambitious goal, utilities and nations are already working toward it. In 2018, Xcel Energy in the United States was the first large U.S. utility to pledge net-zero with a vision of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. ; in 2019, Arizona Public Service (APS) came in as the second US utility to announce a goal to deliver 100 percent clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050.  The United Kingdom was the first major economy, in 2019, to commit to reduced carbon emissions by 2050, more recently with their Ten Point Plan towards a green industrial revolution

Here at Schneider Electric, in addition to assisting customers like Xcel and APS with market leading grid management solutions, we have been aggressive about setting our own carbon neutrality goals, including achieving net-zero operational emissions by 2030; demonstrating carbon neutrality in our extended ecosystem by 2025; and reaching a net-zero supply chain by 2050.

Leveraging a digital grid

The traditional way of producing and distributing electricity will not bring about a new, cleaner future. Carbon neutrality goals will reshape every aspect of the utility industry, particularly grid operations. If you are a utility planning on a low-carbon future, consider how digitizing the following three areas will support your goals.

Managing distributed energy resources

A distributed energy resource (DER) is a small-scale unit of power generation which is operated locally and connected to a larger power grid at the distribution level. They include solar panels, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicles, small natural gas-fueled generators,  controllable loads, etc. It is important to note that the energy made available by DER is generated and consumed locally.

As the world moves toward a low carbon economy, the deployment of DER will continue to increase. However, DER are a challenge for utility operations, planning and resource integration. This is where digitalization and automation of the grid is essential. utilities can better monitor and estimate their current and future state, model real-time and forecasted activity and optimize management and control. Utilities must be able to digitally orchestrate distributed generation and delivery of electricity while improving power safety, reliability and quality.

Linking operations management and business management with ADMS

An advanced distribution management system (ADMS) is the bridge between operations management (OT) and information management (IT) and is a foundational strategy for a net-zero utility. ADMS helps utilities better manage the grid, including monitoring, analysis, control, optimization, planning, and training tools that all function on a common representation of the electric distribution network (aka a digital twin). By merging distribution management (DMS), outage management (OMS), and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems into one solution, utilities can maximize the benefits of an evolving smart gird.

Schneider Electric’s Jose Angel Rios Blanco explains further…

The ADMS platform will be the manager of the integral distribution network model and its assets, publishing and receiving data from external systems…With the appearance of dispersed DER components in the distribution network such as distributed generation, storage systems, electric vehicles and microgrids, and components on the consumption side such as smart homes, demand response programs, new agents in the regulated market, the ADMS platform will become a fundamental pillar in daily operations for the distributor.

Finally, ADMS solutions will gradually incorporate analysis, machine learning features that will increase the capabilities of the traditional algorithms used for simulation and planning, as well as online optimization algorithms.

Decarbonization goals can only be achieved with a clear-eyed view of the present and a pragmatic look into the future. Leveraging ADMS to link operations and business will not only improve the overall management of a digital grid, but help drive the transformation needed to ultimately slow climate change.

Maximizing aging assets

Digital transformation isn’t solely about more; it’s not always about adding more energy sources or more assets. It’s also about better managing the existing assets, which in turn makes energy distribution more efficient and impacts overall emissions goals.

By digitizing asset management, utilities with carbon neutrality goals can better analyze asset data from operational, technical, financial, and geospatial sources. Operations can better understand where and which maintenance actions are needed to avoid outages, save costs and maximize crew resources. Risks like unplanned downtime can be better avoided, and expensive maintenance interventions can be caught and remedied before they threaten the stability of the grid or impact consumers.

Just like an individual wouldn’t waste money adding solar panels to a home that’s drafty or energy inefficient, so too should utilities ensure current assets are optimized throughout the digital transformation journey.

Utilities digitizing the grid for sustainability

Digitization is enabling the utility industry’s carbon neutral transformation. Indeed, it will be impossible to reach any climate change goal without it. The following are illustrative examples of exactly how utilities are progressing toward sustainability goals, powered by digitization.

The Urban Futurability project in São Paulo

At the heart of Enel’s Urban Futurability project is the creation of South America’s very first Network Digital Twin. The Twin is a 3D digital model that replicates the local electricity infrastructure using thousands of sensors installed on the actual grid, each communicating information on grid status in real-time to both the distributor and the local stakeholders. Ultimately, the Digital Twin can be used to create greater awareness of energy use, efficiency, and savings.

This project demonstrates that digitalization of electricity networks, buildings, and urban infrastructure can develop in a living laboratory. Citizens, entrepreneurs, municipalities, and universities can co-create innovative solutions that connect infrastructure to local needs such as mobility, safety, waste reduction, security, and the urban environment.

Leveraging advanced technology for better efficiency in Texas

Austin Energy, the eighth largest community-owned utility in the U.S., serves more than a million residents in and around the capital city of Texas. By using more digitization and advanced technologies, Austin Energy aimed to improve energy efficiency, create a more resilient power grid, and improve reliability.

In pursuit of its mission, and with the knowledge that an ADMS enables better operational decisions by integrating millions of data points into a single user experience, Austin Energy chose Schneider Electric to implement an ADMS.

The results have included better automation and digitization that gives the utility access to real-time information and greater visibility into operations. ADMS also supports Austin Energy’s sustainability goals that include reaching 55 percent renewable energy in its mix by 2025. Its ADMS deployment represents a significant step toward a smarter grid and is an example for utilities working toward creating a more sustainable, resilient, energy-efficient world.

Conclusion

While many utilities have stated carbon-neutral goals, it needs to be backed by necessary actions to decarbonize. Utilities need to increasingly invest in new ways to manage their business, infrastructure, systems, employees, customers and new stakeholders while planning for a low-carbon future. Additionally, they must retire existing coal plants by 2030, revisit plans to build new gas plants and facilitate clean energy much faster.

These new approaches and digital technologies will support a more sustainable management of the grid while improving service and reliability for consumers thus further contributing to a net zero reality