Better Together: Grid Orchestration and the Partner Ecosystem

As renewables and DER integration ramp up, disruptive weather strikes more frequently, and balancing the grid becomes more complex overall, traditional grid management practices are being eclipsed. Grid orchestration is truly the way of the future.

That’s why GridOS, the first software portfolio designed exclusively for grid orchestration, has been so well received since its introduction last year. Since then, many of the world’s largest utilities have expressed interest in using our innovative solutions for increasing grid reliability and resiliency.

But it’s important to remember that GridOS is just the tip of the iceberg. Achieving true, successful grid orchestration requires a multitude of services and solutions beyond the scope of a grid application.

For example, a grid application can only work at peak performance when its users embrace it – how can you best ensure adoption? And what if you decide to modernize your grid over time – what can you do during the deployment stage to ensure easy scalability for the future?

Our GridOS Partner Ecosystem can answer all of those questions and more. Our Partners include some of the world’s most respected brands. They were all handpicked to help GridOS customers based on their experience providing services to the utility industry, as well as the overall value they can contribute to grid orchestration.

There are three main goals of the Partner Ecosystem:

1. Co-innovation. The Partner Ecosystem fosters close collaboration to co-create solutions and capabilities that tackle the evolving challenges faced by the energy sector. GridOS’s open platform enables the development of new applications and services that can improve grid operations, energy management, and customer experiences. 
2. Knowledge sharing. Collaboration goes beyond technology; it also involves sharing knowledge and expertise. GridOS and its Partners are eager to share knowledge and best practices with GridOS customers, thus creating an environment ripe for driving excellence.
3. Accelerating the energy transition. It’s no secret that utilities around the world need to adapt to accommodate a future of sustainable energy – and fast. The Partner Ecosystem encourages all its members to be constantly researching and testing innovative new processes and solutions that help accelerate the energy transition.

Here are some of the essential services, technologies, and expertise available to GridOS customers:

One of the best ways to ensure success in deploying GridOS is unlocking deployment flexibility. This simply means that some grid apps operate more efficiently, effectively, and securely when deployed in the cloud versus on-premises – and utilities should have the flexibility to use either method. Deploying certain apps in the cloud can yield immense cost savings, among many other benefits.

That’s why the Partner Ecosystem includes cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and others. All GridOS cloud provider Partners are highly respected in their fields and offer cutting-edge cloud technologies, as well as state-of-the-art cybersecurity features, expert consulting services, and a superb track record of working with the utility industry. The value they bring to GridOS customers through cloud deployments is unparalleled.

As previously stated, deploying a new grid solution requires additional work to ensure user adoption. It should be remembered that a new solution is a change, and any change is always a delicate situation in business. Some utilities have their own, in-house change management experts. For those that don’t, some GridOS Partners offer expert change management services to advise on communication, training, and other essential aspects of solution deployment. They play a key role in ensuring a successful rollout of GridOS.

Quality training is one of the best ways to accelerate time-to-value (i.e. the time it takes to deploy a solution so users can leverage it and begin generating value). In recognition of this, GridOS, in cooperation with PwC and Infosys, have built two Grid Software Centers of Excellence (CoEs) . The CoEs serve two purposes:

1. Expanding the global talent pool for the GridOS portfolio to ensure improved and seamless service delivery.
2. Co-innovating to develop and deliver new solutions for utility customers, accelerating the timeline for readying new solutions for implementation.

Both ensure wider knowledge of GridOS as well as a continued stream of innovative applications and solutions to support a sustainable energy future.

The energy transition calls for innovative solutions to address Net Zero carbon and sustainability goals. Between GridOS and the Partners, collaborative teams are working to build grid technology applications that address the challenges of the energy transition. The Partner Ecosystem’s commitment to co-innovation, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration helps GridOS customers modernize their grid with Zero Trust grid security, faster updates and upgrades, and seamless data integration to meet business outcomes.

For more information on our Partner Ecosystem, visit its webpage.