Innovation is making its way into the energy company sector, a traditionally conservative ecosystem, but with significant challenges that force it to adapt. A new report from Gartner, Inc. identifies the ten main technological trends that can help these companies to be more competitive by reducing costs and understanding new consumer needs:1. Social Media and Web 2.0Social media can be a means of acquiring customers and retaining existing ones. They also create a channel for consumer participation in energy efficiency programs, or simply as a channel for immediate communication and incident resolution. In addition, they provide many opportunities to improve internal processes in companies with a historic deficit in internal communication.2. Big DataThe development of intelligent networks will considerably increase the amount of data that companies handle. New environments and applications are emerging, such as advanced measurement infrastructure (AMI), intelligent tools, microgrids, advanced distribution managers with remote control, and many other innovations that will organize the data.3. Geolocation and other mobile technologiesAt this point, there is hardly any need to explain the advantages of mobile devices as facilitators of processes and communication with customers. Complex production management systems are increasingly connected to these devices. The objective is that both employees and consumers can consult everything necessary regarding the services offered by these companies through systems such as GPS, digital data devices, general packet radio services, with high speed terrestrial data networks, free Wi-Fi and satellites).4. Cloud Computing and SaaSAlthough the utility industry is in close proximity to other sectors of cloud adoption due to concerns for security and reliability, solutions are starting to emerge in areas such as smart meters, big data analysis, demand response coordination and GIS. The first executors of cloud and SaaS utilities include organizations interested in providing common application and data to multiple public service entities, such as cooperative associations and transportation network operators, smaller municipalities and cooperatives without large infrastructure or budgets, and the realization of short-term investor-owned public services (IOU), smart grid pilots interested in fast time to market, with minimal impact on production systems.5. Sensor TechnologySensors are widely applied across the entire supply, transportation, and utility distribution domains. Fusion sensor - the addition of onboard digital signal processing and associated software development capabilities - is accelerating potential applications. Widespread adoption utility is questioned by specific application requirements, such as ruggedization, electromagnetic shielding, extreme temperatures, cybersecurity and remote access.6. In-Memory ComputingThe increased use of in-memory computing (IMC) application infrastructure technologies as enablers within various types of software and hardware products will lead to rapid adoption of IMC by the mainstream, risk-averse IT organizations. The ability of IMC to support high-scale, high-performance and low-latency use cases that make it possible for IT organizations to implement innovative scenarios, such as address processing for intelligent measurement of the network generated in real time and sensor data.7. IT Convergence and OTVirtually every new technology project in public services will require a combination of IT and OT investments and planning, such as IAM or advanced distribution management systems (ADMSS). More than any other industry, the public services sector faces the challenge of separating IT and OT management, along with the importance of hybrid projects that link IT and AT systems. The industry will benefit from aligning its OT support, standards and procedures with those used for IT, reducing the time needed to develop governance through AT. This will ensure that when the integration of IT and OT is inevitably done there is already some approximation in the standards.8. Advanced Measurement InfrastructureAMI constitutes a cornerstone of the smart grid by providing a low-latency data communications hub to improve the use of fault-detection distribution assets, and facilitate the inclusion of consumers in energy markets. Different market structures, drivers and expectations of regulatory benefits create different ownership models for components of the AMI technology stack, which favor different technological solutions around the world.9. Communication TechnologyThe distributed nature of public goods, together with the need for more efficient asset management and the use of labor, makes mobility and support for communication technologies high priority areas of investment for public services. The intelligent power grid unit towards better observability of the distribution network requires machine-to-machine (M2M) monitoring systems that are similar in function to the bandwidth under SCADA, but the use of different communication technologies and approaches (such as personal area networks (PAN), Hans, fans, substations, control center and local area networks of the company, and share wide area networks (WANs)10. Predictive AnalysisPredictive analysis has generally been used to describe any approach to data mining with four attributes: an emphasis on prediction, fast penetration time, emphasis on the business relevance of the resulting ideas, and a greater emphasis on ease of use, making tools accessible to business users. Common applications include understanding future equipment failure patterns, or the likely burden of certain customer groups or regions. By understanding potential future circumstances, organizations are better able to allocate investments to maximize returns.
