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CONNECTIVITY


CONNECTIVITY KEY TO UNLOCKING DATA POTENTIAL


Alastair MacLeod, CEO and founder of remote connectivity provider, Ground Control, says new methods of data monitoring and collection will help streamline and improve business performance


D


igitalisation is bolstering productivity and efficiencies throughout the industrial world, not least in the Utilities


sector. With the introduction of high-speed, reliable connectivity, traditional manual data collection methods are becoming obsolete. Even though data is empowering providers


to deliver better, more consistent utility supply to consumers, despite ever increasing demand, there’s still a dilemma here. Connectivity has been identified as a barrier


to the full exploitation of the Internet of Things (IoT). Inmarsat’s 2021 report states that 58% of electrical Utility providers are unable to implement IoT projects due to availability of reliable connectivity in the areas required. Ultimately the long journey of data has


resulted in less reliance on manual collection and more on automation. Dependable connectivity has enabled machine-to- machine (M2M) technology to deliver big data, helping to understand consumer trends and effectively predict future utility usage. Indeed, companies failing to incorporate a


robust data strategy into their business plan are likely to find themselves at a competitive disadvantage in the very near future, if not already. Our recent paper, “Data’s journey in shaping digital transformation in Utilities, and what it all means”, examines this very dilemma. The Utilities sector has always made a


significant effort to collect utility data, most frequently capturing pole data and meter readings. But pole data collection has its limitations. Many poles are in remote areas and some companies have such a high number (some exceed one million), retrieval ties up valuable resource making it neither feasible nor financially viable, to gain enough insight into grid activity, nor gain this insight fast enough, in order to make smarter business decisions. Likewise, the reading of consumers’ meters


has seen a similar journey moving from manual to smart, connecting wirelessly to report on usage in real-time - empowering


With the vast and disparate nature of Utilities and its infrastructure, connectivity will be the key to unlocking the power of big data in this sector


users with more informed utility control. However, the exploitation of big data is only


possible due to innovations in connectivity, including smart phones, the internet, and IoT. Today, M2M technology and IoT are such


integral parts of our everyday lives that they often go unnoticed. For Utilities, they present an excellent opportunity to capitalise on a vast array of information that, when turned into actionable insights, revolutionises customer services, streamlines operations, and increases productivity and safety. Electrical grids and gas distribution systems


make up critical infrastructure. Outages and supply interruptions result in huge financial burden and penalties for the supplier, and severe (often prolonged) disruption for consumers. With increasing pressure for renewable energy and from customers seeking to generate their own power, digital transformation could be the catalyst Utilities need to bolster consumer interest. The UK Department of Energy and Climate


Change has invested heavily in its smart grid vision and route map - building a smart grid across the UK. Smart meters and sensors along grid lines transmit usage data to providers, enabling them to match supply with demand. Likewise, smart appliances can alter the times of electricity usage, avoiding peak times when pressure on the grid is high, resulting in lower costs and reduced risk of outages. It is these detailed insights into customer


habits that does and will allow Utilities to achieve maximum efficiency and customer satisfaction. And at a time of expensive grid updates, usage trends could prove invaluable to planning and prioritising engineering work, and efficient means of distribution supply. At the end of 2021, there were 27.8 million smart and advanced meters in homes and


50 DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 | PROCESS & CONTROL


small businesses across the UK. But reports show 8% of the UK's landmass remains uncovered by mobile networks - so connectivity considerations are essential. Furthermore, real-time flow of electricity


through the grid is monitored, recorded and time-stamped using GPS by phasor measurement units (PMUs). Combined with smart meter data, such timely information provides an opportunity for power suppliers to identify necessary maintenance before it culminates in a full-scale power outage. When outages do occur, knowing the exact location and nature of the issue without having to wait for technicians to manually investigate, increases worker safety and significantly reduces the time to restoration. Extreme weather also heavily contributes to


grid vulnerability, and as extreme climate events become more frequent, the smart grid can identify areas of highest risk, enabling the opportunity to plan to minimise disruption. The full potential of data can only be realised


once it has been processed and applied to decision-making. But humans are fallible, and our brains are not equipped to deal with the volumes of data transmitted through the smart grid. Automation means minimal human input and is less fallible, more accurate and faster. However, the challenge is clear - that without


a connectivity ecosystem to underpin all this advancing technology, we are still in the dark when it comes to data insight. And that’s where satellite comes in. It can be


used as a primary connectivity option, or as a failover in the event of terrestrial network interruption, creating a more resilient, future- proof grid.


Ground Control www.groundcontrol.com/en/blog/datas-journey-in- shaping-digital-transformation-in-utilities/


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