INFRASTRUCTURE MADE SMART

TEXT NILS WISCHMEYER
ILLUSTRATION ANDREA MANZATI

—— Regional and renewable: the energy transformation doesn’t just mean saying farewell to fossil fuels, but is also leading to more decentralized energy supplies. To ensure that the grid remains stable, electricity infrastructure needs to get smart. We explain how these smart networks work.

From centralized to decentralized

Our power grids are centrally structured. Up until now, a few large power plants with a stable base load have been feeding electricity into the grids, through which energy is often transported to distant consumers. Photovoltaic systems and wind turbines are changing this structure. Electricity production is now susceptible to greater fluctuation because sun and wind power vary with the weather—and it’s becoming more decentralized because former consumers are now increasingly also producers in this network.

REMOTE CONTROL

Energy suppliers and network operators are responding to the challenge by combining smaller photovoltaic and wind power plants to form larger virtual power stations. This will help mitigate periods of both overproduction and underproduction.

THE NETWORK: DRIVEN BY DATA

Thanks to algorithms and electronics, the centrally located computing center can now observe real-time changes in the demand for power and the feed-in on the network, and can switch the latter on or off precisely to the minute as needed. This is known as a smart grid.

BASE LOAD: VIA SWITCH

The base load is the minimum demand for power on the network that must always be met. To ensure that sufficient power remains to meet this base load in the event of fluctuating feed-in from wind turbines, for example, a smart grid depends on biomass, hydropower and, for the transition period, additionally on conventional power plants and batteries. An algorithm recognizes this and switches them on when too much volatility is measured.

FOR HOUSEHOLDS: THE SMART METER

In homes and apartments, the change is most clearly seen in smart meters, which for example make remote meter reading possible. Users can then schedule certain tasks for lower-price hours, when electricity consumption is lower overall. This can include charging an electric car late at night instead of during the day, for instance. Along with their roles as consumers and producers, households can also store electricity in larger-scale battery systems.

CYBER ATTACKS ON MUNICIPALITIES

—— Digital attacks are increasingly targeting city halls, municipal enterprises and hospitals—facilities that often have very limited resources for cybersecurity. TÜV SÜD specialist Sudhir Ethiraj explains how municipalities can defend themselves and what role AI can play in this field in the future.

“AI ACT”: WHAT DOES THE EU’S ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACT MEAN FOR COMPANIES AND USERS?

—— Artificial intelligence (AI) has enormous potential to change society. Whether or not we perceive these changes as positive will strongly depend on how we regulate AI and its development. The EU has agreed on the world’s first comprehensive, governmental regulatory framework for AI. This will set the standards for the future.

CAN WE TRUST CHATBOTS?

—— Chatbots are taking over more and more aspects of our digital lives. Thanks to AI technology, they offer quick and affordable approaches to customer service and online advice. But what if a chatbot starts spreading misinformation?

NEW CYBERSECURITY LAW FOR PRESSURE EQUIPMENT

—— In spring 2021, it was widely reported in the media that there had been an attempted cyberattack against a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida. Apparently, malicious hackers had remotely taken over its systems and tried to poison the water. Evidence of any actual system breach could not be found—but many vulnerabilities in the plant’s systems were discovered.