Hi guys! Marina Ventura here… your adventurer into the wonders of the world! I’m on a mission to explore one of the biggest adventures of the 21st century… the world of Artificial Intelligence and how it can benefit our future energy. Wanna come too? Excellent!

Today, we’re taking a deep dive into something big and keeps everything buzzing. It’s the electricity grid – the giant network of cables and pylons that delivers electricity across the country.

The electricity grid is an essential infrastructure for homes, schools, businesses and industries. It’s evolving rapidly from a centralised system into a complex, digitalised network to accommodate a range of renewable energy sources and storage facilities, and to efficiently distribute electricity to meet local demand and prevent blackouts!

Smart Grids use AI algorithms on historical and real-time data to predict when there’s a need for more electricity… like on hot days when everyone turns on fans… or snowy nights when the heating’s full blast!

They can also detect faults or disruptions in the grid, like equipment failure or a broken cable. It can identify the exact location of the issue and reroute power to minimise interruptions and keep energy flowing without missing a beat.

It can even fix faults before people notice! By continuously monitoring power plants, turbines, cable and pylons, tiny issues can be spotted before they turn into massive problems. Like a machine doctor! Fewer breakdowns mean more reliable energy, and happier engineers.

The grid is becoming more and more complex – and that means significant investment in modernisation, expansion and digitalisation. This includes new transformers, power lines and pylons.

Another cool AI development is something called Dynamic Line Rating. For many years, electricity cables were graded to carry a fixed amount of electricity. By using AI, grid operators can adjust and safely expand the limit when weather conditions are right.

When it’s cold or windy, the cables are cooler and can carry more electricity – perhaps 30% more! This all works with super smart sensors and AI watching the weather every second. It’s like giving the grid a weatherproof brain!

AI can also help optimise the storage and distribution of energy from renewable sources. By considering factors such as demand, supply and price, AI can determine the best times to store energy, when to release it, and how much to distribute. We know that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are intermittent. However, energy storage allows excess energy generated during peak times to be stored and used when these sources are not producing electricity. This helps to make renewables more reliable and less dependent on weather conditions.

It’s a loop of power and problem-solving – and we need clever humans (like you!) to help design the future.

MARINA MISSION!

So now over to you! I want you to have a think about what AI-powered energy gadget YOU would invent. Perhaps a wind-powered backpack or a fridge that knows when you grab a drink and only cools it when you’re nearby? How about gym bikes that store electricity from your pedalling to power your console?

Click here to find out how to enter