The applications of AI in the renewable power sector

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a significant role in the renewable energy industry, and it can involve various power transformation stages, starting from renewable energy forecasting, monitoring and controlling of smart grids, and up to the security of nuclear power stations.
AI has advanced features that can monitor the sustainable operation of the renewable sector and guide it toward a safer, environmentally friendly, and efficient future.
AI applications can use the variable nature of renewable sources and predict future forecasts more precisely. This nature would help improve plant availability, schedule repairs, and keep grid stability at high standards. Alongside this, the application of AI can help predict weather events like extreme weather events (heat waves, drought, wildfires, and storms), sea level rise (ice and glaciers melting), food insecurity, ocean acidification, outdoor air pollution and species extinction.
This leads to better organisation of the unit commitment, improved reliability, greater dispatch efficiency and reduced operating reserves needed. Power grids are used as efficiently as possible through AI applications that use vast amounts of meteorological data to adjust operations according to changing weather conditions.
Energy dealers and the power industry would benefit from the optimal utilisation of AI, which helps them stay out of trouble and provides cost reduction and financial return benefits. Demand-side management and economical load dispatch are two areas where AI excels. AI ensures that the electrical grid runs at optimal load, which aids grid operators in optimising energy consumption.
AI helps lower electricity costs and improves energy efficiency by analysing data from smart meters and accurately forecasting network load. Further, AI applications can be implemented in a decentralised energy trading system, which guarantees effective energy redistribution, increases trade scheduling and availability of clean electricity, forecasts energy, and lowers total cost. Apart from this, AI applications monitor optimal periods for energy storage systems to enhance system efficiency and technology lifespan.
Energy consumption patterns can also be forecasted with the applications of AI, which assists utilities in optimising and effectively allocating their resources. Along with preventing blackouts, AI ensures uninterruptable power in the distribution network. Smart grids with AI capabilities can identify interruptions or malfunctions including equipment breakdowns.

AI applications can easily locate the problem in the power systems and reroute power within a limited span of time without interrupting the grid stability and decreasing downtime.
AI plays a critical role in managing the demand response (supply and demand) through automatic load shedding during peak hours, which helps utilities save expensive infrastructure upgrades. AI makes it possible to react instantly to changes in demand, which improves energy efficiency, lowers costs, and speeds up the switch to renewable energy sources.
Computation errors in load uncertainty can also be managed through AI applications, but the collection of large amounts of data creates security and privacy issues for the utilities. Data collection, processing, and storage for decision-making are very difficult processes.
However, with the use of AI applications, real-time data should be used for instant decision-making and providing sustainable solutions. If AI systems are to be implemented successfully, this major issue should be resolved with fairness, and transparency must be guaranteed.
AI applications should occupy high-quality data for effective operation. Data must be precise and well-organised to improve energy management and produce insightful results for the utilities.
In conclusion, energy systems combined with AI applications are essential for making successful renewable energy industry projects. Current laws and potential guidelines should be abided by the AI systems in the renewable energy industry.
Through the potential application of AI, the renewable energy industry should grow at a greater pace to make a clean, green, and sustainable future. It would also keep the grid stable and reliable, and AI technologies must be safe against cyber-attacks.
The writer is an assistant professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology
Szab Campus. Email: [email protected]
Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, August 19th, 2024