Electrical Power & Protection


AI improves energy supply reliability

I&C July 2024 Electrical Power & Protection

Many grids across the globe have a persistent problem in common, ageing infrastructure. In the US alone, the average installed base is 40 years old with a quarter of the country’s grid being 50 years or older. In South Africa, the scenario is similar, with the average plant estimated to be 40 years or older.

This makes a good case for the modernisation of grid infrastructure, a subject that could take an entire section in a bookstore or library. Fortunately there are some almost-immediate steps that can provide a quick win without having to undertake forklift-scale projects.

One such intervention is AI, which has the ability to enhance predictive maintenance by analysing data from a myriad systems and equipment, identifying potential failures before they occur. By predicting equipment failures, AI enables energy providers to schedule timely maintenance, reducing the risk of unexpected outages and costly downtime.

Furthermore, AI offers continuous, real-time monitoring, thereby detecting anomalies and establishing early warning systems. By predicting these potential failures, AI-driven systems provide optimised and intuitive maintenance schedules, leading to improved reliability and more reliable energy supply.


Dwibin Thomas.

The role of scada and historian systems

Scada systems collect and store real-time data from energy systems. When this data feeds into AI algorithms, it can provide predictive maintenance and subsequent recommendations. Historian systems store historical data, and capture long-term trends and performance metrics. Again, AI algorithms use this historical data to make predictions and recommend maintenance actions.

The combination of real-time scada and historical data provides AI algorithms with invaluable information, allowing for analysis and subsequent predictive maintenance. This optimises maintenance schedules and prevents equipment failures, enhancing overall energy network performance.

AI in energy management offers the following important benefits:

• Reduced downtime: AI-driven predictive maintenance identifies potential equipment failures before they occur, minimising unplanned downtime and ensuring continuous energy supply.

• Cost savings: By optimising maintenance schedules and preventing unexpected breakdowns, AI reduces operational costs for energy providers.

• Optimised resource usage: AI analyses data to optimise energy distribution, ensuring efficient utilisation of resources.

• Generation, distribution and transmission: AI optimises power plant operations, grid efficiency and energy transmission by improving performance and minimising downtime.

• Overall impact: AI-driven energy management benefits the entire spectrum, from generation to distribution and transmission, ensuring a steady and efficient energy supply.

Modernised networks

In more modern electrical networks, AI technologies are transforming fault location, isolation and restoration (FLISR) processes. Through advanced data analytics and machine learning, AI algorithms can analyse extensive datasets to detect anomalies indicative of faults and classify it accurately.

These insights enable decision support systems to provide real-time recommendations to operators, facilitating optimal fault isolation and restoration strategies. Moreover, AI-driven optimisation algorithms enable the reconfiguration of the network to minimise outage duration and restore power efficiently. Integration with scada and distribution management systems further enhances FLISR capabilities, allowing utilities to improve reliability and operational efficiency while reducing downtime.

While the role of AI in energy lies mainly in utilities, there is also a bigger picture. Energy networks are essential for productivity, be it manufacturing plants or energy-intensive segments such as mining, minerals and metals. AI-driven maintenance ensures uninterrupted operations, supporting both business and economic growth.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Opinion piece: Digital twins in manufacturing – design, optimise and expand
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Digital twin technology can help create better products, fast. It can also transform the work of product development. This strong statement from McKinsey reinforces how far digital twins have come in manufacturing.

Read more...
Localised inverter-integrated transformer
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM, South Africa’s largest manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electromechanical equipment, is launching a breakthrough in renewable energy integration with its localised inverter-integrated transform

Read more...
Steinmüller Africa integrates advanced technologies at Mondi’s boiler project
Electrical Power & Protection
Steinmüller Africa is leading a boiler project at Mondi’s Richards Bay mill. The 18-month undertaking showcases the company’s blend of engineering excellence and cutting-edge technology.

Read more...
ABB innovation for energy efficiency and sustainability
Electrical Power & Protection
The application of sensor technology to reduce the operational and standby power losses of traditional current and voltage transformers can lead to energy savings of 181 MWh over a 30-year period, the lifetime of a typical switchboard in the African environment.

Read more...
UPS systems are key to keeping SA’s automotive industry up and running
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
During loadshedding, PLCs and OT systems often fail, not because they are directly tied to the factory’s core manufacturing process, but because they are now an integral part of IT infrastructure. When an IT system shuts down, the impact is far more complex than simply restarting machinery.

Read more...
ACTOM advances energy infrastructure
Electrical Power & Protection
At this critical juncture where South Africa is poised to modernise its power infrastructure, ACTOM’s Engineering Projects and Contracts (EPC) Division showcased its capabilities for the first time at Enlit Africa 2025.

Read more...
Asset tracking is key to driving operational excellence and sustainable growth
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Asset tracking plays a critical role in the success of industrial businesses. By effectively managing and monitoring assets, companies can optimise their operations, ensuring that resources are used efficiently. This leads to improved productivity and reduced costs.

Read more...
Advanced contactor solution to revolutionise motor management
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric South Africa has launched the TeSys Deca Advanced, an advanced contactor solution designed to revolutionise motor management with unparalleled efficiency, reliability, simplicity and sustainability.

Read more...
Steaming ahead with boiler skills development
Electrical Power & Protection
As an expert in steam and boiler operations and maintenance, AES is very focused on safety, quality, technology advancement and the development of human capital. The company invests heavily in training and the promotion of talented people on an equal opportunity basis into the industrial operations environment.

Read more...
High-performance oscilloscopes
Electrical Power & Protection
RIGOL Technologies, a global leader in electronic measurement instruments, has launched two powerful additions to its oscilloscope portfolio.

Read more...