Itron, Inc. and Schneider Electric are embarking on a strategic collaboration to disrupt the current dynamics of energy management. As homes and businesses increasingly integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels, battery storage systems, electric vehicles, and microgrids, these two prominent companies are spearheading advancements at the grid’s edge. Their partnership aims to digitally transform the management of energy supply and demand, leading to enhanced grid flexibility, capacity, and efficiency.
Meeting the Challenge of Rising Electricity Demand
Electricity consumption is on the rise, a trend fueled by the broadening electrification of various industries, including transportation and household heating. Forecasts by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicate that the U.S. grid capacity will nearly double by 2050 from its 2022 levels, with similar growth anticipated in Canada. This growing demand presents a complex challenge for grid management, one that Itron and Schneider Electric are prepared to address by merging their innovative grid management solutions.
From Data to Actionable Insights at the Grid Edge
The proliferation of DERs is leading to an unprecedented volume of data originating from the grid edge. This surge offers a unique opportunity for utilities: to leverage the data for insights that drive optimized grid planning and operations. By integrating Itron’s cutting-edge Grid Edge Intelligence with Schneider’s sophisticated Digital Grid solutions, utilities can potentially expand grid capacity without the need for extensive infrastructure investments.
A Vision for an Intelligent, Responsive Grid
Don Reeves of Itron envisions a future where meters, transformers, and feeders communicate and negotiate automatically, dynamically adapting to the distribution grid’s needs. He sees this collaboration as a stepping stone towards realizing that vision, allowing consumers to actively participate in and benefit from a more intelligent energy ecosystem.
Intelligent Operations Connecting Grid and Prosumer
Schneider Electric’s Ruben Llanes expresses a commitment to providing scalable solutions for intelligent grid operations. The alliance with Itron underscores this dedication, aiming to construct an interconnected digital foundation essential for progressive grid management.
Empowering Grid Operators with Enhanced Capabilities
Itron’s industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) network solution is already providing valuable data insights to modern utilities. This collaboration is set to extend these capabilities, enabling energy orchestration for behind-the-meter assets. With this partnership, utilities can respond proactively to grid constraints through advanced grid analytics, DER management systems, and outage management capabilities, all while fostering engagement and optimization at the prosumer level.
Grid Edge Intelligence for Prosumer Benefit
As the adoption of DERs in homes and businesses soars, it fosters the development of intelligent grid edge solutions. These technologies will be crucial in enabling demand response programs and giving owners control over their energy production and consumption, all while assisting utilities in evolving their grid infrastructure to meet future needs.
Upcoming Demonstrations at DISTRIBUTECH 2024
Itron and Schneider Electric have scheduled an exciting News Conference for February 27th at DISTRIBUTECH 2024 in Orlando, Florida. They will be showcasing cutting-edge solutions that combine grid edge intelligence, distributed intelligence, GIS, DERMS, and ADMS. By providing live demonstrations and engaging with customers throughout the year, these companies are well-positioned to accelerate the modernization of electrical grids while establishing a repertoire of use cases that will benefit utilities worldwide.
