News articles 13.09.2024
Aidon’s Energy Vision seminar discussed the role of AI in the management of electricity grids
Aidon turned 20 this year, and the company celebrated the round years by organising an Energy Vision seminar in Helsinki on 11 September. The anniversary seminar discussed the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence, machine learning, data and smart meters in the management of electricity grids. The topic was explored through presentations, case studies and a panel discussion. The invited seminar was attended by 70 of Aidon’s customers, partners and other guests.
– The actual artificial intelligence is just the tip of the iceberg. First, a lot of groundwork is needed, such as sensors, own and external data, data analysis, machine learning, programming and more. When utilising artificial intelligence, only a few percent of the costs are allocated to actual AI, a much larger part to groundwork, reminded keynote speaker Hanna Hagström from Lakeview Oy.
Erik Jansen from Elvia in Norway, Jorma Myllymäki from Elenia in Finland and Stephan Stålered from Ellevio in Sweden presented the practical perspectives of distribution system operators. Each of these three network companies is one of the largest in its country. The companies have a total of approximately 2.5 million end customers. The common challenges faced by the companies include managing the grid capacity and fluctuations caused by renewable energy production, while ensuring the reliability, data security and sustainability of energy distribution. Smart metering is already commonplace, and every company has ongoing development projects to increase digitalisation.
AI can be scary, but it doesn’t have to
Artificial intelligence arouses both excitement and fear at the same time. Microsoft’s Mari Tuominen calmed both fears and false hopes and created a realistic view of the possibilities of artificial intelligence.
– AI is not new; extensive language models are new. We have been testing AI for over 10 years. In business, AI should make work easier and improve results. One way to start is to give employees the opportunity to use secure AI instead of open AI, as they are already using AI anyway. However, it is not advisable to limit the project too narrowly, for example as a chatbox, because artificial intelligence can significantly change business, said Tuominen.
The example of moderator Perttu Pölönen summed up the change in mindset.
– Artificial intelligence is already in use. It’s too late to be pessimistic now, so be optimistic.
New owner creates new opportunities
Robert Denda, CEO of Gridspertise, which owns Aidon, opened up a view of the global challenges and solutions of electricity networks.
– More than 1500 megawatts of energy storage facilities are waiting to be connected to the grid, climate change is challenging grid maintenance, variable solar and wind energy will require 4.5 times more flexibility by 2050, and up to 1800 new players will join electricity grids worldwide every day. We can address these challenges with the digitalisation of network management, which improves monitoring, flexibility, resilience and cybersecurity.
Tommi Blomberg, CEO of Aidon, sees the 20-year-old company as being at an interesting turning point and on the verge of something new. Gridspertise’s solid grid management expertise combined with Aidon’s strength as a creator of customer-oriented innovations give the company an excellent starting point for the new decade as a provider of an even broader solution portfolio.
– The time for utilising artificial intelligence, AI, has already begun. The potential of this tool is enormous, so we need to learn how to harness it concretely to drive the energy transition and, of course, profitable business, Blomberg reflected.
Networking and fresh perspectives
The seminar received praise from the participants. Lammaisten Energia’s CEO Kimmo Kivikko and TLS Verkko’s Sakke Rantala found the event very interesting.
– This was an eye-opening event. I got new ideas on how artificial intelligence could be utilised in my own operations, said Kivikko.
– The theme is topical and the way it is discussed is interesting. It’s also always nice to meet other people in the industry, said Rantala.
– A great opportunity to get to know people and network. The atmosphere at the event was very pleasant, the presentations were informative and interesting, and AI was a good choice of topic, stated Margus Jakobson, CEO of Incap Electronics Estonia.