AI and its impact on renewable energy

Revolutionizing Renewable Energy: AI unleashes groundbreaking predictive analytics, advanced monitoring and diagnostics, enhanced energy storage capabilities, and significant cost efficiencies. And this is just the beginning.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) possesses the unparalleled capability to conduct complex analyses, making rapid and accurate decisions based on vast quantities of real-time data. This technology offers transformative benefits across various sectors, with renewable energy standing at the forefront of its impact. 

AI equips the renewable sector with critical insights for project development, construction, operations, and maintenance, leveraging machine learning algorithms and the expanding computational power of modern computer systems. This advancement has significantly enhanced five key areas within wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) plants:

• The design of predictive power generation models
• Monitoring and diagnostics of operations
• Enhancement of performance and efficiency
• Optimization of energy storage and distribution through advanced battery technologies
• Significant cost reductions

By optimizing the efficiency of renewable energy assets and streamlining operational processes, AI not only fosters more competitive pricing but also ensures a more reliable supply of clean energy for both generators and consumers.

Predictive modeling

At Atlas Renewable Energy, Artificial Intelligence is primarily employed in the operation and maintenance (O&M) of its solar photovoltaic plants. AI’s role is pivotal in crafting predictive models designed to forecast the energy output of wind and solar PV plants.

Given the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources — with electricity generation dependent solely on wind and sunlight — accurately predicting energy production volume is crucial. This not only ensures adherence to supply contracts but also offers numerous other benefits.

Thiago Girard, Innovation Project Manager at Atlas Renewable Energy, highlights the utilization of machine learning and deep learning in crafting power generation models. These models are adept at detecting equipment failures and predicting outcomes with minimal error margins.

Atlas has achieved predictive accuracy exceeding 95%, a feat accomplished through the deployment of data systems that adapt to changes far more swiftly than traditional methods. “This level of precision ensures our assets operate at peak efficiency and productivity,” Girard says.

Advanced Monitoring and Diagnostics Through AI

Artificial Intelligence significantly enhances the monitoring and diagnostics of plant operations, employing real-time measurements to detect seasonal, daily, and annual variations. This application of AI in monitoring and diagnostics notably diminishes the necessity for physical inspections, particularly in complex and hazardous locations, such as the nacelle of a wind turbine situated over 100 meters above ground.

The integration of sensors and data collection devices within renewable energy facilities enables AI algorithms to perpetually assess equipment performance. This capacity for remote monitoring not only conserves time and decreases operational costs but also heightens safety by reducing technicians’ exposure to dangerous conditions.

A prime example of this technological advancement is predictive maintenance. Similar to predictive modeling, which forecasts power generation fluctuations, predictive maintenance leverages data analytics to anticipate operational anomalies and potential faults in equipment and processes, thereby streamlining plant operations.

Beyond equipment monitoring, AI’s role extends to fault diagnosis with significant implications. For instance, through the application of AI systems, Suncast identified a 3.6% annual energy loss at Atlas’ Sao Pedro solar plant in Brazil due to panel soiling. By adjusting cleaning schedules based on AI-driven diagnostics, Suncast achieved a production increase of 0.7%, equating to an additional 1,000 MWh per year. This finding was highlighted in the acclaimed ‘Atlas Open Innovation Challenge’, underscoring the tangible benefits of AI in enhancing operational efficiency and energy output.

Increased performance and efficiency

By continuously monitoring and analyzing data, Artificial Intelligence can optimize the performance and efficiency of wind turbines or panels.

Indeed, AI algorithms can adjust equipment settings in real time and make them operate at high capacity, thereby increasing energy production. In addition, optimized maintenance schedules minimize downtime and maximize equipment availability.

“Data-driven systems are extremely adaptable and adjust to changes much faster than conventional methods. This ensures greater efficiency and productivity of our assets,” summarizes Girard.

IA also offers benefits when it is used in the operation of the electrical system, as it prevents losses of renewable electrical energy (also called spillage or curtailments). This phenomenon occurs when there is an excess of electricity at certain times of the day that the system cannot take advantage of.

“Integrating renewable energy generators into the automatic supply and demand control system would reduce overall energy costs and improve the efficiency of these generators,” says Girard.

For example, Chile is one of the Latin American countries with the highest penetration of variable renewable energies in its electricity matrix. Considering that solar photovoltaic energy is the primary source of generation (25%), and wind power is the third (13%), barely surpassed by coal (14%).

In October 2023, Chile presented renewable energy discharges of 307.8 GWh, with an accumulated in 2023 of 1,493 GWh, according to the latest report released by Generadoras. What happened in October 2023 meant an increase of 93% compared to October of the previous year, when solar energy decreased by 146.8% and wind energy by 22.4%.

AI can be the answer to these performance failures. Firstly, it improves efficiency because AI algorithms can optimize power generation, transmission, and distribution, reduce losses, and improve the overall efficiency of the grid.

On the other hand, AI lowers costs by minimizing energy losses and optimizing resource allocation, which helps to reduce operational expenses of network operators and ultimately reduce customers’ energy rates.

Anomaly detection and predictive maintenance done with AI can also help to identify faults in the grid to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted power supply.

Advancing Energy Storage and Reducing Costs

Batteries play an essential role in mitigating curtailment and addressing the challenges posed by energy intermittency. Through the strategic use of Artificial Intelligence, energy systems can be optimized based on demand, pricing, and available resources, enhancing both efficiency and reliability.

AI’s predictive analytics capabilities enable accurate forecasting of energy demand, allowing for the strategic distribution of stored energy at optimal times. Furthermore, AI aids in monitoring the health and efficiency of storage systems, identifying potential issues before they escalate. This proactive approach not only reduces operating costs but also increases the precision and speed of maintenance and repairs.

Moreover, AI contributes to decreasing the costs associated with batteries, making renewable energy storage solutions more accessible and cost-effective. This advancement is critical for the wider adoption and sustainability of renewable energy technologies.

Navigating the Future with AI in Renewable Energy

Artificial Intelligence is not merely an emerging technology; it is becoming a cornerstone across all sectors of the global economy, with the renewable energy industry at the forefront of this transformation. The integration of AI into the development and optimization of wind and solar photovoltaic sources is catalyzing fundamental shifts in their internal processes and operational efficiencies.

Leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and the capacity to analyze vast datasets in real-time, AI empowers the renewable energy sector to make informed, strategic decisions across the entire spectrum of energy generation, production, storage, and distribution. This capability is pivotal for enhancing operational efficiencies, reducing costs, and optimizing performance in real-time, ensuring that renewable energy sources are more accessible, reliable, and efficient than ever before.

Ultimately, the fusion of AI with renewable energy technologies is not just an enhancement of the present energy landscape but a critical driver for the future energy matrix. AI is accelerating the energy transition, expanding the potential of renewable resources to meet and surpass global energy demands sustainably. As we look towards this future, the role of AI in renewable energy stands as a testament to the power of innovation in ushering in a new era of environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

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