There is, therefore, a desperate need for a new kind of grid that is responsive, adaptive, and can see patterns in energy consumption and production. At the moment, teams of people manage the majority of the network who watch the data in real-time and make decisions about how much current to supply to the grid, dependent on current need. Energy providers must continually monitor multiple data flows to make the correct decision for how much power to provide.
In the past, this was relatively simple. The power company observed how much energy a few large providers were pumping out into the grid and adjusted their rate of electricity generation accordingly. The rise of people making electricity from solar and wind, however, adds complexity to the mix, as does integrating various sources in a way that will take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of each. That’s where AI comes in: it takes over the role of human management, automatically adjusting the supply reaching the grid for maximum efficiency, as the following infographic shows.
Infographic by University of California - Riverside
