Digitalisation

Ushering in the decade of digital

2019 was quite a year for digitalization in the Utility sector. Digitalization has become a dominant, if not permanent part of the Utility lexicon. Global investments in Utility digitalization are growing at a breakneck pace. In 2019 alone, the Utility Industry will have spent over $60 billion on digitalization initiatives. There has also been an acceleration of a previously emerging trend to move the ownership of data and analytics out of the application/business unit silos into shared environments where data can be more effectively governed, maintained, and repurposed across business units. This should continue to emerge in 2020, as as customer-oriented data is applied more directly to operating and infrastructure challenges, and vice versa. The past year saw more Utility executives rethinking what their core IT systems should look like at a fundamental level, says GPs. And the main consideration of the potential benefits of unbundling their systems investments (e-based solutions and systems platforms.

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Data centers aren't the energy hogs we thought
Digitalisation

Data centers aren't the energy hogs we thought

Researchers developed the most detailed model to date of global data center energy use. The model provides a more nuanced view of data Center energy use and its drivers. More efforts are needed to better monitor energy use moving forward, lead author says.

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Asset managing your data on the way to electrification
Digitalisation

Asset managing your data on the way to electrification

Data has transformed how utilities operate, by expanding the volume and resolution of energy use data. The acceleration of electrification and decarbonization will make managing data as a strategic asset increasingly necessary. Data driven decision making creates operational efficiencies and drives cost reductions.

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3 Ways utilities will benefit from 5G
Digitalisation

3 Ways utilities will benefit from 5G

5G is the fifth generation of mobile networking technology. It is more than a slightly faster version of 4G. 5G will offer much higher speeds, lower latency, and the ability to accommodate many more devices. utilities should research the many opportunities.

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Industry digitalisation from an energy perspective
Digitalisation

Industry digitalisation from an energy perspective

Digitalisation offers opportunities for high-skilled employment and innovation, integration of renewable energy, and cuts in operating costs. Digital twins and data analytics continuously optimise manufacturing processes for efficiency and safety. The number of connected devices worldwide is projected to grow from 15.

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Internet of Things self-powered sensors and devices now possible with new material
Digitalisation

Internet of Things self-powered sensors and devices now possible with new material

A material with thermoelectric properties has been invented by researchers at the Institute of Solid State Physics, Vienna University of Technology. The material converts incidental heat to electricity to generate enough energy to power devices. It is ideal for electronics running without a battery.

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Dubai announces that 25% of its buildings will be 3D printed in 2030
Digitalisation

Dubai announces that 25% of its buildings will be 3D printed in 2030

Dubai recently announced a 3D printing strategy to make it a leading hub for additive manufacturing in construction. The Emirate expects to reduce average building construction costs by 50 to 70%, and labour costs by as much as 80% with 3D-built structures.

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Virtual Power Plants: former sci-fi technology is now a reality
Digitalisation

Virtual Power Plants: former sci-fi technology is now a reality

There are multiple options on how to manage distributed energy resources (DER) A virtual power plant aggregates the capacities of multiple DER of various types. This makes the production of energy more coherent and allows for efficient energy trading on the electricity market.

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H2020-funded project RETROFEED kicks off in Brussels
Digitalisation

H2020-funded project RETROFEED kicks off in Brussels

RETROFEED is a project funded under the European Commissions program Horizon 2020. The project aims at an increase of 22% in resource efficiency and 19% in energy efficiency. Project partners boast years of experience in European projects and the development of innovative.

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Hungary, Portugal and Poland sign up to EU quantum communication infrastructure initiative
Digitalisation

Hungary, Portugal and Poland sign up to EU quantum communication infrastructure initiative

QCI will help Europe to secure its critical infrastructure and encryption systems against cyber threats. It will also enable data centres to store and exchange information safely. Long-term plan is for the QCI infrastructure to become the backbone for Europes Quantum Internet.

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