Deloitte Consulting and Utilidata have announced a strategic partnership to develop real-time, data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) tools, enabled by NVIDIA processors, aimed at modernizing the electrical grid. This collaboration seeks to help customers manage an increasingly complex and distributed grid more intelligently.
With energy demand on the rise, grid planners have adjusted their five-year load forecast from flat to nearly 5% growth. Deloitte’s research predicts that residential distributed energy resource (DER) capacity could surpass 1,500 GW in the next decade, potentially exceeding peak demand requirements.
Managing a distributed grid poses significant challenges compared to traditional centralized configurations. To address these complexities, Deloitte will combine its data science and energy industry expertise with Utilidata’s Karman platform to provide actionable insights to grid operators. This initiative will utilize accelerated computing and AI software tools from NVIDIA, a leading semiconductor manufacturer.
The Karman AI platform, developed by Utilidata, will play a central role in this modernization effort. The platform leverages IoT and edge processing technologies to capture high-quality data from end-user utility meters. NVIDIA’s Jetson Edge AI platform powers a custom module embedded in these meters, which sends AI-processed data to the cloud. This real-time data access and predictive analytics enable utility operators to make more informed decisions, enhancing grid resilience and efficiency.
As distributed energy resources such as renewable microgrids and vehicle-to-grid chargers continue to grow, the grid’s complexity increases. Decentralized systems, which feature numerous small power sources, offer greater reliability, resilience, and sustainability. These systems can more effectively balance energy supply and demand, operate independently at smaller scales, and provide carbon-free energy.
However, managing this decentralized grid involves navigating the intermittent nature of renewable energy production and the complexities of a larger number of distributed sources. Utilidata aims to “redefine the grid from the edge” by utilizing advanced IoT and processor technologies to provide accurate, real-time data from utility meters. The Karman platform’s integrated EV charging and smart DER management features further enhance grid visibility and operations.
Marc Spieler, Senior Director of Energy at NVIDIA, highlighted the benefits of leveraging Deloitte’s industry expertise to better engage with utility customers. This partnership is poised to improve distributed grid operations, aligning with broader goals of decarbonization, reliability, and resilience.
The findings and insights from this collaboration will be explored further in Protolabs’ Real Talk webinar series, featuring interviews with experts such as Aric Dromi, a strategist and former chief futurologist at Volvo, and Umbar Shakir, a partner at business and digital transformation consultancy Gate One.