Wuraola Olaleye: AI & IOT revolutionizing electrical networks

Since its discovery, electricity has played a major role in improving the lives of people, nations and the world at large. It quite began in the second industrial revolution which saw a rapid rise in mass production techniques across various operational value chains.

Electrical grids and networks have also enjoyed the attention of industry experts due to its importance and applicability, its ability to be transformed from one voltage or current level to another with relative ease, within domestic, commercial and industrial applications. These grids are typically infrastructures consisting of generating systems, transmission lines, transformers and distribution units.

It is with keen interest that the fourth industrial revolution have been incorporated into smart electrical grids to interact, monitor and stabilize the network, bringing about optimized and efficient power systems. Smart electrical grids typically utilize smart sensors, and other control devices to achieve system efficiency by leveraging AI and Internet of Things (IOTs). They employ feedback system between supply sections and consumer load demands, giving raise to improved power utilization, reliability and losses reduction.

Another relatable example is WiFi enabled switches, capable of controlling household equipment through mobile device applications. AI has also found its relevance in smart houses with app-enabled features. When tied to motion sensing devices, consumer loads can energize based on number of persons in a room, thus guarantying improved power conservation.

It is believed that, if upscaled, AI can play a pivotal role not only at utilization points but also at the transmission and distribution ends by learning historical data, thus aiding decision making through energy demand forecast.

Additionally, online battery management systems now offer remote-monitoring features of battery parameters, such as terminal voltages, charging current, cell temperature and state of charge of energy storage facilities, to enhance early fault detection, improve safety of consumers and maintainers and increase equipment lifespan.

AI and IoTs have also changed the face of condition-based maintenance. This predictive approach has improved the reliability of electrical grids by monitoring trends, recording outage data and aiding root cause analysis and improving lessons learnt.

These systems are more prevalent in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, leading to increases in energy efficiency and reduction of carbon footprint through closely monitored power conservation frameworks.

In Africa, South Africa has also embraced AI and IoT as key elements in electrical grid availability and reliability. If Nigeria explores this initiative or at least have such plans in place, it could potentially set the tone for increased productivity, reliability and economic prosperity.