How grid orchestration software helps utility managers balance renewables and grid reliability

The renewable energy integration across the grid is rising at an unprecedented rate.

And, with reports suggesting  93% of extreme heat events are worsened by climate change, it’s no wonder utilities are turning to greener energy sources.

While the need for sustainable energy is undeniable, renewable power generation can be unpredictable. But people will still need power.

So, as the industry accelerates toward sustainability, balancing the integration of renewable energy sources and securing energy supplies is a top priority for utility managers.

In this blog, we explore how an orchestration approach to grid management can bridge the gap between renewables and a stable, reliable flow of power – thus empowering utility managers to navigate these complexities effectively.

Today, consumers are increasingly advocating for cleaner energy sources, putting pressure on utility companies to increase renewables penetration.

The challenge for utility managers in all this is ensuring the lights stay on as they face an array of challenges when integrating renewable energy sources into the grid:

• Data silos and disconnected teams make it harder for new renewable management processes to be implemented effectively.
• The accelerating rate of distributed energy resource (DER) penetration makes it hard for utilities to keep up. 
• The industry is grappling with a workforce in transition, leading to a potential loss of critical expertise at a crucial time.

As a result of these challenges along with many others, utility managers need to find a new way to take control of their grid.

Enter the concept of orchestration — a strategic approach that harmonizes diverse components to achieve a unified outcome.

Gartner defines orchestration as:

“Prescribing and negotiating interactions between components — to enable recomposition and forming processes.”

That’s the general, universal definition. To apply the orchestration concept to the grid, we must think about how we arrange, coordinate, and manage the assets, systems, and solutions across the grid. By doing this, we can improve processes and relationships between vital grid components — better enabling us to integrate renewables effectively.

Arrangement:

Orchestrating the grid involves arranging renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, demand response programs, and conventional power plants into a cohesive ecosystem.

This arrangement ensures that the grid operates optimally while minimizing disruptions.

Coordination:

Effective coordination is key to managing multi-directional energy flows from an ever-changing plethora of DERs, for example.

Orchestrating grid components to work in harmony enables managers to balance energy generation and consumption, prevent overloads, and maintain grid stability.

Management:

Orchestrating the grid requires real-time data analytics, predictive algorithms, and automation.

By using grid orchestration technology, like that offered by GridOS®, the world’s first software portfolio designed exclusively for grid orchestration, to manage the flow of energy in response to supply and demand fluctuations, utility managers can proactively ensure that energy supplies remain secure and reliable.

All in all, an orchestration approach to grid management offers multiple benefits for utility managers:

Enhanced reliability:

Orchestrating grid components improves the overall reliability of the grid. By effectively orchestrating the utilization of different energy sources (i.e. drawing on new sources when others aren’t generating enough power), managers can ensure grid reliability for consumers.

Optimized energy generation:

Grid orchestration enables utility managers to balance energy generation from diverse sources. This optimization minimizes the reliance on conventional power sources like fossil fuels and maximizes the use of sustainable, renewable sources. It also ensures excess renewable energy is appropriately stored so it can be drawn upon as needed.

Cost efficiency:

Grid orchestration helps utility managers make informed decisions around supply and cost management. By better understanding energy generation patterns, managers can strategically allocate resources and proactively prepare for any anticipated supply or flow issues, reducing operational costs.

Sustainable operations:

Orchestrating grid components is essential for achieving Net Zero goals. By integrating renewable energy with orchestration tools, utility managers can contribute to carbon reduction targets while supporting their organization's commitment to environmental sustainability.

Utility organizations around the world are already harnessing the power of grid orchestration to navigate the challenges of balancing renewables and secure supplies:

Northern Powergrid:

By adopting Grid Orchestration Software, Northern Powergrid has lowered energy usage in the UK by up to 4%, while balancing renewable and secure sources and avoiding unnecessary wastage.

Counties Energy:

In New Zealand, Counties Energy is harnessing multiple sources of data via orchestration to facilitate their low-carbon transition and achieve greater grid reliability, resiliency, and flexibility. 

The path to a sustainable energy future requires utility managers to master the delicate balance between renewables and reliable energy supplies.

A grid orchestration approach, inspired by Gartner's definition, empowers utility managers to manage diverse grid components effectively. By arranging, coordinating, and managing the elements of the grid via orchestration, utility managers can integrate renewable energy sources while ensuring customers get the power they need, when they need it.

At GE Vernova’s Digital business, we offer software solutions underpinned by GridOS, the world’s first software platform specifically designed for grid orchestration. With GridOS DERMS, ADMS, and AEMS, you’ll be able to more easily execute your organization’s renewables strategy, reduce grid operational risk, and ensure a steady, reliable flow of power to your consumers.