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10
2024
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Emerging Trends from Electrification to Energy Management
Society is undergoing a scientific renaissance driven by the timely convergence of technological advancements and investments in energy. What’s leading the charge?
Emerging in this renaissance are two primary and closely linked themes: electrification and energy management. In electrification, technologies using conventional fuel sources are supplemented with or replaced by equivalent systems powered by renewable energy. Energy management, on the other hand, refers to the storing, monitoring and distribution of energy. Supporting these themes are a multitude of related applications that may not necessarily involve renewable energy, but are innovative means for better controlling energy use, such as smart meters. The latest trends in the development of electrification and energy management technologies are predicated on three tectonic shifts in the energy landscape: those occurring at the source of generation, the point of consumption, and in the design of the technologies themselves. Modernizing the Grid with Smart Grid Technology The first major shift is at the point of energy generation. Aging infrastructures built around traditional power plants are transforming into modern electrified networks — or smart grids — supplemented by renewable sources and consisting of a variety of sensors to closely monitor usage and identify system faults before they become more significant problems. This is a critical requirement. Smart grids balance the benefits of conventional and renewable energy sources. Renewables like solar and wind have cyclical downtimes, so battery energy storage systems (BESS) are incorporated into the broader grid and used to capture excess energy for later use. Because aggregate consumption is also cyclical according to its own rhythms, with peak and non-peak phases of usage, smart grids can allocate energy where and when it’s needed most and from what source. Those sources might be conventional, renewable or stored energy. And the growing incorporation of AI and ML enables smart grids to react more quickly to usage trends, outages or other failures. Creating Islands with Distributed Energy Resources and Microgrids The future of grid modernization is with a distributed approach. A distributed energy resource (DER) is a means of small-scale energy generation, often located near the point of consumption. DERs may involve traditional fuel sources such as diesel generators, renewables such as solar panels or battery storage. When combined with other DERs, the volume of output can be significant and offset — or even outproduce — traditional sources. Home energy management systems are examples of DERs, the majority of which interface directly with the grid. EV charging infrastructure can also incorporate DERs, leveraging solar panels on charging stations to lessen the need to pull from the grid itself. Overall, DERs help to reduce strain on the grid and avoid the high costs of distribution infrastructure over long distances. Distributed energy resources can be united into microgrids — segments of the grid that will form self-powered islands during grid failure. As examples, a microgrid may cover a small community, hospital complex or industrial park. In the case of a power outage, the DERs within the microgrid will take over production, keeping power flowing for whatever is connected into the microgrid. Connectivity — both in power and signal — is critical to the safe and successful operation of a microgrid. Islanding and then re-integrating portions of the grid introduces risk of equipment damage and injury, such as those caused when a worker is unaware if equipment is disconnected. Microgrids are evolving to get even smaller, taking the form of nanogrids powering a single structure such as a data center. Gaining Insight through Smart Monitoring Sources of generation aren’t the only representation of energy innovation. The point of consumption is also undergoing significant change. Smart meters are an extension of the smart grid and enable two-way communication between the consumer and supplier. The meters show households, businesses and governments a high-resolution picture of their minute-to-minute usage and lead to what is called energy awareness. Through close monitoring of electrical output, wasteful activities can be eliminated and replaced by more efficient operations. Smart metering has gained importance within data centers, where even the smallest of power outages can cause data loss or disruption. When combined with technologies such as switchgears and uninterruptible power supplies — which rapidly switch power to alternative supplies and leverage batteries to maintain consistent, clean power flow — smart meters play a critical role in keeping data services online. Similar to a smart meter, energy management systems (EMS) are smart monitoring solutions for battery energy storage systems (BESS). The EMS provides the user experience, enabling homeowners, business operators and service provider personnel insight into and user-friendly control of the BESS. Reducing Consumption though Demand Response Programs In an attempt to reduce strain on aging infrastructure and minimize costs, electricity providers have begun introducing demand response programs in which consumers can adjust their energy usage based on peak and off-peak periods — often for a financial incentive. The emergence of smart appliances and home devices — such as thermostats — can enable providers to directly control their customers’ systems, to reduce air conditioner run time as just one example. Now, with AI and ML, providers and customers alike can both predict and react more quickly to peak consumption periods. The success of this energy renaissance is dependent on the quality and reliability of the systems and devices used. When dealing with power, failure can be catastrophic and can limit adoption due to public perception. The following are a few ways design trends are changing to ensure successful deployment of energy technology. Creating Safer Battery Management The new emphasis on battery technology has generated many opportunities for design engineers and integrators to drive advancements in efficiency, safety and form. Effective battery management takes into account a diverse set of concerns around energy storage, especially around thermal considerations. When dealing with high-energy throughput applications, heat is a particular challenge. For lithium-ion battery storage solutions, uncontrolled heat or system faults can lead to thermal runaway, posing significant safety risks such as fire or off-gassing. In response, test standards such as UL 9540A and installation standards such as NFPA 855 have been developed to mitigate hazards related to energy storage systems (ESS). Other advancements in thermal materials and high-power interconnect solutions ensure power is transmitted safely and at the quality and performance necessary for successful operation. And control provided by the EMS and responsiveness of AI can take action and alert a system owner of battery conditions and potential issues. Incorporating the Latest in Power Connectivity As mentioned above, high-power interconnect solutions can help create safer battery management environments. It doesn’t stop there, though. They also ensure the expected operation across the entire electrification and energy management ecosystem. Molex’s busbars and high-power connector solutions ensure high currents safely move through assemblies without sacrificing performance or reliability. But not all applications are created equal, and many systems are constrained by space or exposed to harsh environmental conditions, such as within wind turbines, rooftop solar arrays, data centers trying to pack in as many servers as possible, or remote substations. Advancements in component miniaturization ensure space isn’t wasted even as higher power applications require larger connector pitches: the distance between the center of pins. At the same time, sealing and locking mechanisms protect from ingress and vibration, avoiding risks of part failure. Predicting Future Performance Digital twins — the virtual replicas of physical systems — are being used across energy applications for stress tests, to prepare for the unexpected and to anticipate system longevity. Powered by historical data, ML algorithms and the latest in AI, digital twin technology provides designers and operators with insight never before achievable outside of real-world scenarios. Similar technology is now being used down to the component level, such as with connectors. Molex’s own engineering team utilizes data-driven predictive engineering to simplify collaboration between teams and with our customers, reduce physical prototyping and ensure performance and reliability before going to manufacturing. Electrification and energy management applications often step into dynamic and potentially uncharted terrain. The rapid developments in smart grids and battery storage technologies will only continue as EV charging infrastructures expand, critical systems like hospitals and data centers require more fail safes and homes become more energy independent. Molex’s 80-year legacy of innovation in interconnect solutions, global manufacturing and distribution footprint, and unmatched, interdisciplinary engineering expertise help bring energy solutions to life. Our rapid prototyping capabilities are backed by predictive engineering capabilities and one-stop-shop Global Reliability Lab, which provides extensive design and testing support for thermal performance, environmental durability, field failure and more. Whether it’s an off-the-shelf connector or custom cable assembly, we have the resources in place to provide a mutually beneficial customer experience.
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Advancements in electrification and energy management technologies are sparking a scientific renaissance in power. Learn how trends at the source of power, at the point of consumption and in energy system design are driving a new era of energy awareness and control. 