Nine fields of application for AI in the energy sector
In an analysis, the German Energy Agency (dena) describes nine concrete fields of application for artificial intelligence (AI) in the integrated energy transition. According to this analysis, AI is particularly promising for improving forecasts of energy generation and consumption.
The analysis identifies the optimisation of the operation of energy plants and infrastructures as well as support for investments and strategic business decisions as key areas of application. The analysis was developed as part of the dena project "EnerKI - Using Artificial Intelligence to Optimize the Energy System".
Andreas Kuhlmann, Chairman of dena's Executive Board: "Artificial intelligence can be used in a variety of ways in all sectors of the energy industry and is therefore of central importance for the integrated energy transition. AI represents the opportunity to technologically master the complexity of a decentralised and integrated energy transition.
In the future, AI algorithms will make a significant contribution to a secure, climate-friendly and cost-efficient energy supply. However, the energy industry must address the topic strategically now, build up know-how and personnel, and develop future-proof business models."
Identification of cyberattacks
According to the dena report, an additional field of application for AI is the identification of cyberattacks on critical infrastructures such as power plants and grids. AI makes it possible to identify conspicuous patterns in digital processes from energy generation, transport, trade or consumption. According to data from the German Federal Office for Security (BSI), attacks on critical infrastructure more than quadrupled in 2018 compared to the previous year. Around twelve percent of these were directed at power grids.
For private households that have their own generation plants and storage facilities, for example, AI enables more efficient and thus more cost-effective energy use and easier marketing of surplus energy on the electricity market. The basis for this is the analysis of generation and consumption data. In addition, AI combined with the use of drones can be used, for example, for predictive maintenance of energy plants and infrastructures.
dena will present the analysis at a dialogue event on 24 September 2019 in cooperation with the French Embassy in Berlin. The event will bring together around 200 experts from companies, research institutes, politics and associations to discuss the potential of AI for the energy transition and the findings of the report.
About the dena project EnerKI
With the "EnerKI - Use of Artificial Intelligence to Optimise the Energy System" project launched at the beginning of 2019, dena is strengthening the development of knowledge on AI in the energy industry. The aim is to explore the potential of AI for the energy transition, initiate a broad dialogue with the relevant stakeholders and make the insights gained available to them. Further dialogue events and expert workshops, a further analysis report and a meta-study are planned until mid-2020. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).
Further information on dena's EnerKI project: https://www.dena.de/enerki.
