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Wind and solar energy cannot be used at full capacity without a smart electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, which will lead to low profitability and a higher price for consumers, said Corneliu Bodea, president of the Romanian Energy Center (CRE) and CEO of Adrem, within the project “New technologies in energy”, carried out by AGERPRES.
“I would like to start this topic by bringing some clarifications in a field that is dominated by confusion, starting from the terms used to the meaning and importance of this process. We refer to the digitization of the energy transmission and distribution infrastructure (gas and electricity) as that process that automates the collection and processing of data (of the information in the process) in order to increase the relevance based on the analysis of this data, to increase the efficiency, to increase the flexibility and speed with which this infrastructure is managed. The process aimed at digitizing this field is different and refers to the conversion of analog data into digital data. The digital transformation of this critical infrastructure (term also used) refers especially to the cultural and managerial aspects that involve the adoption of analysis methods, the implementation of processes adapted to such a digitized and digitized infrastructure. All three processes are topical and of interest for the infrastructure to which we refer, although in the following I want to emphasize especially what is related to digitalization,” Bodea said.
Another controversial aspect is related to the link between the process of digitization of infrastructure and the adoption of modern and renewable energy solutions.
“I have often been put in the situation of having to explain that in order to be able to manage an energy generation dominated by unstable sources, generally reduced in power and strongly distributed geographically, it is necessary to have a link between consumption and production with a degree of flexibility and resilience that can only be ensured by an infrastructure with a high degree of digitization, where information circulates practically instantaneously, and the decision is decentralized and automated,” explains the specialist.
A digitized infrastructure is called smart grid, a concept that includes various systems such as: smart metering, SCADA solutions, geographical information system, asset management, demand response, etc. The logical and interdependent operation of such systems requires a digital transformation at the company level and creates the necessary basis for the development and increase of the efficiency of distributed generation solutions from renewable sources.
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