In the Energy Transition Puzzle, Data to Drive Grid Orchestration is Key

The sustainable energy grid is a puzzle laid out in front of all of us, with recognizable pieces like renewables and DERs but also some unknowns and some still emerging. This includes the exponential growth of data arising from widespread instrumentation and the digitalization of the grid. It’s quickly becoming clear that solving this puzzle will require new capabilities to integrate utility data at scale.

Managing the grid is growing in complexity as we add millions of new sensors, meters, electric vehicles, and other smart devices. Today, our ability to orchestrate the grid is closely tied to the collection of (potentially) trillions of datapoints generated by an incredible growth of these devices and inputs.

This data is key to solving the puzzle. Without it, we’re blind. We’re guessing at how to best predict, manage, and respond to complex changes impacting the grid with limited insight into trends and conditions that can help us plan, operate, and transact accurately. It’s not easy to connect and integrate the relevant data needed but when we do, we can lean into innovations like AI and automation that can make grid management more efficient and effective.

GridOS®, the software portfolio we launched earlier in the year specifically for grid orchestration, uses energy data to help run the grid smarter and more efficiently. We’re committed to continuously improving this portfolio to ensure utilities around the globe have the software they need to run a more sustainable energy grid and as part of that commitment, we are accelerating the integration of relevant and necessary energy data.

Solving for data with a best-in-class data integration platform

Today, I’m pleased to announce that we have acquired Greenbird Integration Technology AS, a best-in-class company with a talented team of data specialists working to simplify data integration for utilities. Greenbird’s data integration platform is designed to help grid operators connect and integrate internal/external, IT/OT energy data to enable grid orchestration. I can’t imagine a better match for GE Vernova’s Digital business as we help organizations unlock the value of their data to drive mission critical applications.

This acquisition will accelerate innovation of the GridOS data fabric and one network model that will help to eliminate data silos, linking applications like ADMS, EMS, and DERMS together for a systemwide view of the grid that drives more intelligent, real-time grid operations.

The benefits of utility data integration

While artificial intelligence and machine learning are exciting capabilities within GridOS, the technologies are only as smart as the underlying data. Greenbird’s platform allows us to accelerate GridOS capabilities to further unlock the power of historical data and power AI/ML/analytics, grid simulations, and scenario modeling – enabling historical time-series snapshots of the state of the grid and its environment. In addition to providing invaluable AI training data, this can result in an advanced digital twin of the grid to help run operations in an automated manner while enabling the grid to be self-describing and self-healing.

The GridOS data fabric and one network model combined with Greenbird’s data integration platform will help us build an even stronger data foundation to expand these capabilities, setting our portfolio apart from point solutions and other software offerings in the market. And we’re happy to report that the platform is cloud-enabled, which complements the GridOS hybrid cloud architecture that is so important for faster testing, deployment, updates, and more.

The Greenbird team and platform will be key accelerants of GridOS and our commitment to continuous innovation of the portfolio. This news represents yet another puzzle piece clicking into place to help customers meet decarbonization targets and electrification demand while maintaining a reliable and resilient grid.