How Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Are Changing the Energy Industry
Artificial intelligence or AI involves a computer’s ability to adapt to a situation and create a unique solution that was not directly programmed. The energy industry has been tapping into the innovative world of AI to learn how to improve processes, ensure energy resiliency and to enhance the customer experience, among other pertinent goals.
AI vs. Machine Learning
The terms “machine learning” (ML) and AI are often used interchangeably, but ML is just one branch of AI. ML can be defined as a collection of computer science-based methods to find insights by leveraging past experiences to inform a future decision. Over time, these decisions improve and become more precise as the ML system learns from its mistakes. ML itself can be broken down into additional categories and has many different applications.
AI Energy Innovations Currently in the Market
There are many solutions entering or existing in the market now based on some level of AI or are enhanced by AI. The simplest form has been around for some time: the Nest thermostat. It learns your schedule through its occupancy sensor, the weather outside, the temperature of the space, your phone or car’s location and the feedback of the individuals changing the set points. After about a week, it knows when to start cooling or heating your home. On top of the thermostat itself, you can also use a smart home assistant to ask the thermostat to change the set point at any time. The complexity of understanding speech and having a seamless conversation with a voice assistant is heavily based on the capabilities that AI has brought to the world.
Beyond the home, we are seeing AI enter every part of the energy value chain. Examples include the work being done at Constellation, such as the generation facilities leveraging AI to better predict failure and optimize when to schedule maintenance. On the distribution side, utilities are using AI-based technology to better respond to storm-related outages. On the sustainability side, by leveraging emissions, usage and energy tariff data, along with implementation costs and financing, we can create plans that optimize costs, emissions and reliability to meet sustainability goals as well as increase resilience and decrease costs.
For commercial energy managers, new solutions providing enhancements that breathe new life into some staple capabilities, such as utility bill review and auditing, and energy forecasting, are now available. Additionally, we are seeing such tools complement the role of the energy manager. No longer is the energy manager logging into one of a multitude of dashboards and searching for anomalies; now, they are being notified of an anomaly or an opportunity to create value for their organization.
AI’s Potential to Improve the Energy Industry
Constellation is looking at AI to decrease our customers’ energy costs and to optimize the many tasks they perform on a regular basis. As we think about cost for our customers, it is easy to just think about price per kilowatt-hour, but we know our customers think about more than just that number. They are interested in ways to be more efficient or to decrease capacity costs and other energy-related costs.
We are exploring how we can leverage AI to deliver the right person the right insight at the right time to make more informed decisions that have a direct impact on cost. For example, a new solution we’re offering known as Pear.ai allows customers to talk conversationally with a system to gain insights. They can ask a question about a site or portfolio of sites and Sam, the technology’s virtual energy agent, is able to answer the question. Today, the questions are focused, but we are seeing Pear.ai add capabilities on a monthly, if not weekly basis. Learn more about Pear.ai.
How Does AI Impact Customers?
AI can enhance an energy manager’s capabilities. Customers will be able to forecast load as well as cost to help determine the value of energy efficiency and energy solutions. In finance, we can provide insights into why budget forecasts were off and how that will have a ripple effect through the remainder of the year. In sustainability, AI can help you balance the risk tolerance of your organization with your greenhouse gas-related goals to assist Constellation experts in the creation of a customized commodity product for your business, including offsite renewables and managed commodity products, that meet your needs.
To stay informed on Constellation’s latest technology ventures, subscribe to our communications at www.constellation.com/subscribe.