Unlocking the Future of Utility Private LTE with Bruce Albright of Burns & McDonnell [Power Perspectives Conversations at DISTRIBUTECH 2024]
Change has become a core theme of the utility industry in recent years, and that type of transformation is not isolated to just one or two areas. Instead, the power sector is amidst multiple true evolutions, driven both by technological advancements and progressing consumer demands. While some of the most oft discussed updates to the previously inert utility sector include the clean energy transition, the adoption of distributed energy, the implementation of data analytics, and more, a core technological revolution is underpinning the progress of each of those: the adoption of private LTE networks.
While to the mainstream observers who aren’t in the energy industry this new technological horizon may appear invisible, walking the halls of the DISTRIBUTECH 2024 conference in Orlando this year made it abundantly clear that this pattern was one that utilities and their partners were all eager to discuss and navigate with industry experts. Given that private LTE networks offer utilities a robust platform to enhance communication, reliability, and efficiency across their operations, these tools finally reaching center stage comes as no surprise.
As these discussions become more mission critical to utilities, leaning on the industry experts who have been beating this drum for years to this point proves invaluable. And among those at the forefront of this private LTE race at DISTRIBUTECH 2024 has been Bruce Albright, a seasoned expert in private LTE technology and the 4G/5G Business Line Manager at Burns & McDonnell. Albright is one of the driving forces behind Burns & McDonnell's wireless communication initiatives in the utility sector, so his insights prove critical and his time at this conference was limited. Thankfully between his breakout session entitled “Is Now the Time for MC-PTT” and his time fielding questions at the constantly buzzing Burns & McDonnell booth on the conference floor, Albright agreed to sit down for an exclusive conversation with Energy Central to share some of his key lessons learned and identify some of the ongoing trends at DISTRIBUTECH 2024.
Bruce Albright and Matt Chester Sitting Down at the Burns & McDonnell Booth
Private LTE: Is This Technology Finally Having Its Moment?
When reflecting on DISTRIBUTECH 2024 and its much-anticipated discussions and learning sessions, Albright observed a notable surge in interest in private LTE. Having been among the most consistent advocates of the necessity and potential impact of private LTE in previous conferences like DISTRIBUTECH, Albright noted that the current landscape necessitated increased efforts to engage utilities and heightened education from companies like Burns & McDonnell. This year, however, the buzz of private LTE preceded arriving in Orlando for the conference, and they’re now seeking out his expertise with questions of their own.
“In the last four or five years, there’s been an exponential growth of interest with utilities moving toward private LTE networks. Utilities are now taking notice of the technologies this can unlock, such as push to talk replacing land mobile radio. There’s been many advances in the past year making this opportunity more realistic and more feasible.” – Bruce Albright
Emphasizing the importance of driving private LTE adoption, particularly in the context of mission-critical applications within the utility space, Albright saw this as a powerful moment for the shift to private LTE. The role has shifted away from him trying to convince utilities about the power of private LTE to instead helping them focus on the how, where, and when by creating detailed business plans and deployment strategies.
During Albright's speaking session, he highlighted various use cases that sparked discussions among attendees, drawing from numerous examples encountered in Burns & McDonnell’s engagements with utilities. Such instances included communications, mitigation of falling energized conductors, replacement of land mobile radio (LMR) systems, and the establishment of unified field area networks. Given Albright's expertise in using private LTE networks as transformative tools for utilities, he enthusiastically elaborated on the immediate advantages available to those companies integrating the technology. In our interview, Albright underscored the pivotal role of private LTE in enabling utilities to overcome existing communication challenges and enhance overall operational resilience. From supporting grid modernization initiatives to facilitating mission-critical push-to-talk functionalities, private LTE offers a versatile solution tailored to the unique needs of the utility sector. And regarding the timing, Albright notes that "utilities are now taking notice of the technology, and we're working with them to develop the strategy creating a more seamless transition."