Exploring the Future of Utilities and Energy Infrastructure with Carlos Nouel of National Grid and Amith Kota of Landis+Gyr [Power Perspectives Conversations at DISTRIBUTECH 2024]
The utility sector is undergoing massive transformation, and one needs to look no further than the evolving conversations from one year to the next at a conference like DISTRIBUTECH about the ‘hot’ topic of the moment and the technologies that move from speculation to hype to pilot and ultimately scalable practice. This trend was vividly evident during DISTRIBUTECH 2024 in Orlando at the end of February, as numerous technologies forecasted in previous DISTRIBUTECH events were now being demonstrated for practical implementation. Leaders were actively exchanging lessons learned, sharing best practices, and engaging in collaborative efforts to ensure the comprehensive enhancement of the grid's functionality. Take, as a key example, the type of grid edge innovations and applications that Amith Kota, Global Chief Technology Officer of Landis+Gyr, and Carlos Nouel, VP of Transformation Programs at National Grid, discussed during a panel entitled “How Grid Edge Applications Drive Flexible Management.” This session didn’t focus on what they predicted was happening next, instead it was a real conversation about the success these two companies had in working together to transform the grid edge for National Grid.
Eager to share more, these distinguished leaders followed up that session by sitting with Energy Central for an exclusive Power Perspectives Interview. During this conversation, Kota and Nouel dove deeper into their perspectives on the shifting paradigm within the utilities sector, including the imperative of consumer engagement to the delineation of roles in the evolving energy ecosystem.
Grid Edge Innovation
Kota and Nouel shared their insights into the state of grid edge innovation during a breakout session attended by DISTRIBUTECH participants. They highlighted innovative solutions and tools that are deployed at the periphery of the electrical grid, where energy is generated, distributed, and consumed. Their story emphasized that these grid edge technologies are designed to enhance efficiency, boost reliability, enable sustainability, and really unlock new opportunities for a grid that was previously built on a central-out model. As Nouel noted during his sit down with Energy Central:
“Grid edge applications enhance grid resilience and adaptability in the face of evolving threats. By decentralizing energy generation and distribution, utilities can minimize single points of failure and enhance system reliability." – Carlos Nouel
Kota agreed, offering the Landis+Gyr approach to the evolving set of solutions:
“Grid edge technologies play a critical role in enhancing grid resilience. By analyzing real-time data and detecting anomalies, utilities can proactively address grid disruptions and ensure uninterrupted energy supply." – Amith Kota
By focusing on the success of using Landis+Gyr as a partner for National Grid building out its grid edge innovation, both Nouel and Kota highlighted the growing importance of these technologies in optimizing energy management and distribution. From real-time data analytics to autonomous intelligence, grid edge solutions offer utilities unprecedented insights into consumer behavior and grid performance. And the possibilities, they noted, only grow beyond what was initially planned once the technologies are installed, building even more strongly on the use cases that were initially anticipated. “Once you capture the data,” Kota suggested, “you can make a lot of decisions. Grid edge technologies allow us to analyze high-frequency data and detect anomalies, such as EVs joining the grid, with precision."
Amith Kota Presenting at the Breakout Session