Optimizing smart grids requires efficient data management, made possible thanks to powerful industrial systems and processors that come with high processing efficiency. Let’s see how they work.
The ecological transition has called for new ways of producing and distributing energy, whereby the widespread and distributed use of non-programmable renewable sources and “smart” digital technologies must be integrated into existing electrical grids, aiming to monitor consumption and distribute power generation in accordance with changes in grid demand. Combining renewable sources and Smart Grids is in fact a prerequisite in achieving the growth targets set for renewable energies, introduced with the proposed update to the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), whereby renewables must cover 40.5% of gross final energy consumption by 2030, up 19% compared to 2021.
Here, “Smart Grid” implies intelligent electrical grids. Unlike what people are often led to believe, they are not a substitute for traditional electricity distribution networks but rather serve to modernize and enhance existing systems through the use of IT and communication technology, striving to make them more efficient, secure, smart and decentralized.
What is a Smart Grid
Today’s electrical grids, designed to channel flows of power produced mainly by large fossil-fueled thermal power plants and managed by grid operators according to an essentially centralized and one-way system, distribute power to the grid’s end users adopting a top-down approach.
In order to harness the energy produced by renewable sources, a flexible, reliable and secure energy grid is needed, capable of optimizing the distribution of electricity, decentralizing power production plants and responding to changes in demand in real time, thus minimizing overloads and fluctuating voltage.
Smart grids are thus a revolutionary solution in the electricity and telecommunications field, insofar as they can be used with existing grids, which are restructured and digitalized in a reasonably short time through a series of eco-sustainable processes, to develop systems allowing two-way communication between the utility and its customers.
Smart Grids, in fact, can welcome electricity produced from a multitude of generation nodes consisting of small-scale, renewable power generation systems located across the distribution network (distributed generation), which cannot normally be programmed in advance, thus inhibiting centralized coordination by the operator of the distribution network.
According to the by the IEA (International Energy Agency, a Smart Grid is “an electricity network that uses digital and other advanced technologies to monitor and manage the transport of electricity from all generation sources to meet the varying electricity demands of end users”.
How to optimize the energy grid through efficient data management
With the spread of numerous generation systems powered by non-programmable renewable energy sources, it has become necessary to guarantee the adequacy of our electrical system, coordinating the needs and capabilities of all stakeholders – generators, grid operators, end users – in order to optimize the use of distributed energy resources, minimize costs and maximize the reliability and stability of the grid.
Optimizing the energy grid requires the real-time analysis of a constantly increasing amount of data from mixed sources, in addition to their rapid interpretation, crucial in making the best decisions and ensuring results able to guarantee both efficiency and environmental stewardship.
The revolution of grids is inextricably linked to digitalization and IoT technologies, but also the use of dedicated systems, processors and software. The two new SMARC modules, based on Qualcomm® QCS6490 and Qualcomm® QCS5430 processors, built in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., offer high processing efficiency and support the evolution of energy grids.
These are industrial processors which, compared to consumer solutions, offer a wider range of temperatures (from -30°C to +85°C) and greater longevity. They integrate an Octa-core CPU, a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) that guarantees high graphic performance and energy efficiency, as well as a dedicated AI engine accelerator for inference processing (Neural Processing Unit), ensuring high standards of reliability and resistance, keeping consumption levels very low thanks to Qualcomm Technologies’ offerings.
These latest-generation System-on-Chip solutions combine advanced connectivity, high-level performance and AI-enhanced edge functionality, while the QCS5430 processor also offers the possibility for over-the-air software updates to improve performance. Integrating these characteristics into the compact, low-consumption design of a System-on-Module SMARC enables a radical change in the way energy grids are managed, bringing computing capacity to the edge. Equipping the smart grid with sensors capable of real-time local data processing – for example, where along the network energy is being produced and where the demand is coming from – optimizes the flow of energy through the grid, immediately triggering the transition from producer to consumer. This, in turn, avoids waste (unlike energy produced by traditional sources, energy from renewable sources cannot be easily stored but must be immediately used to prevent dispersion) and generates earnings for the producer, who can immediately sell the energy produced to those who need it.
The main characteristics of the SOM-SMARC-QCS6490 and SOM-SMARC-QCS5430 modules
The QCS6490 and QCS5430 processors support artificial intelligence (AI) model processing, offering high performance, the capacity for real-time processing of huge amounts of data with low energy consumption, in addition to a broad selection of interfaces and peripherals suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. The integration of the Qualcomm AI Engine accelerator allows the execution of on-device machine learning algorithms, thus boosting the processor’s overall capabilities to 12 trillion operations per second (TOPS).
Specifically, the SOM-SMARC-QCS6490 and SOM-SMARC-QCS5430 modules guarantee exceptional flexibility for integration into various types of architecture for the industrial sector, and particularly the energy grid sector, thanks to the two different power ranges offered. Alongside the high-end SOM-SMARC-QCS6490 module, SECO has introduced a mid-range solution, the SOM-SMARC-QCS5430 module, based on the QCS5430 processor, allowing the solution to be scaled up according to customer needs. These solutions, therefore, provide the performance and flexibility needed for efficient control and data processing, perfectly enhancing the efficiency of smart grids and renewable energy production facilities.
The two SOM-SMARC-QCS6490 and SOM-SMARC-QCS5430 modules, like all SECO SoM solutions, are supplied with a Board Support Package (BSP) and operating system that aligns with the highest security standards and offers tools for simplified and optimized remote device management. A software development kit (SDK) enables software developers to accelerate the development of their applications.
Moreover, the two modules are compatible with Clea and ready to use with the SECO software suite. The Clea platform enriches the hardware infrastructure, offering value-added services key to proper smart grid management, such as device and data flow management, remote AI model updates with each new training and algorithm optimization, while maintaining high security standards in accordance with the latest guidelines of the European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
For those looking to enhance their energy infrastructure with cutting-edge technology, SECO offers the perfect blend of performance and flexibility. Our solutions are tailored to meet the growing demands of modern energy management, ensuring your systems are future-ready and capable of meeting the stringent goals set by regulations. Contact SECO today to discover how our innovative solutions can transform your energy management systems, drive efficiency, and support a sustainable future.
For a deeper dive into this topic and the transformative power of AI in industrial solutions, watch this insightful video featuring a talk from Dario Freddi, our Chief IoT & Strategy Officer, at Qualcomm DX Summit at HANNOVER MESSE 2024.
