Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which has come into our lives with various applications, have been attracting the attention of the players in the sector with its wide usage area and tremendous benefits it brings. From sensors for home technologies to complex applications that control the energy applications in complex systems, it creates efficient, productive, and connected systems. The system consists of web-enabled smart devices that use sensors and embedded processors to communicate, share data, and sometimes act on the information they receive from each other.
The way of communication affects the way energy companies do business. For instance, smart meters have become a widespread solution as a highly efficient IoT application. With the help of smart meters, users’ energy usage is instantly accessed and kept in the central system of the energy provider. But this technology can reach beyond intelligent meters.
One of the most trend topic one is smart grid which is two way of communication between utility companies and customers where electricity and information can be exchanged. Utilities can cut down and backup power plants and use less reliable, intermittent but cleaner sources like PV panels and wind turbines as utility companies can adjust the type of source according to the customer demand. According to the environmental defense fund it is excepted to reduce air pollution 30% by 2030. Also, Floria smart grid implementation resulted in 3.4 million dollars in productivity savings, 99.98% service reliability, and according to the Business Insider, financial gains could reach up to 160 million dollars.
Utility companies can manage the electricity according to customer demand as they have instant data. Analyzing the data by computer system swift responses will be given by the system then with the human intervention and analysis the system will be able to respond. But the question is why there is a need for human intervention. The advanced technology answers this question by artificial intelligence (AI). Today’s smart devices, which automatically detects the demand levels in the network and reduce energy, are strengthened by AI and made recordable with blockchain. It is possible with AI to balance the web with its powerful system, to negotiate actions by managing demand and to provide a range of new products and services by improving itself.
There exists a similar application at Google. Google stated that it had reduced its energy consumption by 15 percent by using DeepMind, AI technology in computing centers. Google has achieved a 40% savings in the use of energy consumed for cooling using AI.
As a result, utilities can manage the supply and demand while optimizing energy given to the grids and reducing waste. When the benefits of the system and Turkey’s dependency on energy are considered, the application of the system has a crucial role in Turkey. Investments in smart grid projects will increase the use of renewable energy as well as reduce Turkey’s foreign dependency on energy. It will also ensure the efficient use of energy while contributing targets about global warming.