Data Transforms Distributed Energy Resources

The power generation and utility sectors are flooded with information. As renewables and distributed energy resources (DERs) increasingly come online, there are more data, assets, and decision points heaped on engineers and managers alike.

Instead of swamping users, these data flows can be channeled and used as a critical tool for success. In other words, “data is currency,” says David Thomason, industry principal of global power generation at AVEVA.

The surge in DERs – energy resources installed locally for use at a facility, such as solar rooftop PV or small-scale solar installations – has been a challenge for industry operations. They often emerge in a disorganized and inconsistent manner, frequently without systematic deployment optimized for operations. As the number of DERs grows, so does the complexity of operations, data, and risk.