Digitalization opportunities to enable local power system transition to net-zero
Elnaz Azizi, Weiqi Hua, Bruce Stephen, David Wallom, Malcolm McCulloch
Abstract
The energy sector is pivotal in driving the transition towards a sustainable net-zero future, with the adoption of digital technologies playing a key role in this evolution. While much of the existing research has centered on sustainability through centralized energy generation and large-scale transmission systems, this paper addresses a notable gap by focusing on how data-driven decisions in local power systems, supported by digitalization, can enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. The framework of this paper is derived from a survey from eight organizations of power sector, covering transmission and distribution, aiming to answer the question: “Which decisions within local power systems need to be informed by data?”. Through inductive coding of survey responses, we identified key themes fall into two main categories: requirements of local energy systems and opportunities provided by digitalization to meet these requirements. Mapping responses to each of these categories underscore the equal significance stakeholders place on the role of digitalization in both planning and operation. Also, with this mapping, we uncovered four key opportunities of digitalization, with predictability and interoperability being the most crucial, followed by responsiveness and automation. Aligned with the identified codes, academic research, industrial implementations and ongoing projects are reviewed to showcase the current practical applications of digitalization. Finally, we identify potential research areas that could further benefit local energy systems through effective use of digitalization. This paper provides insights into the digitalization opportunities in local power systems, offering a comprehensive overview for the data science and power engineering communities. • Stakeholders prioritize planning and operations equally, focusing on integrating low-carbon technologies and optimizing existing assets for local power system resilience. • Predictability and automation are key digital capabilities for better decision-making, improved system flexibility, and efficient energy management. • Interoperability is essential for seamless integration within local power infrastructure, enabling efficient energy management and coordination of diverse energy sources. • Future research directions address challenges like data quality and protocol standardization, recommending enhanced visualization techniques and greater consumer involvement to drive smarter local power systems.