Intel Technologies Drive Energy Network Transformation to Address Climate Change Challenges

Intel has built a solar parking structure at its Ocotillo, Arizona, campus that serves as a sunshade for employee cars while also receiving sunlight and generating solar energy.

Recently, Mike Bates, global general manager of Intel's energy business, wrote an article on the problems of energy system structure, taking the large-scale power generation failure in Texas as an example. He pointed out that the current energy system structure has problems such as the inability to reasonably distribute electricity and the transition to renewable energy. He proposed that Intel's innovative technology will become a key driving force for the transformation of energy networks. Intel not only provides solutions for the power grid to cope with global climate change, but also will work with partners to create a more reliable, intelligent and efficient energy system to promote the transformation of energy networks to sustainable development.

My family and I experienced the massive power outage in Texas in February 2021, when millions of people faced deadly power outages in the dead of winter. However, I found that in order to ensure the operation of critical infrastructure, empty skyscrapers near the grid area still maintained power, which could have been redistributed to local residents and others who needed it more.

The power grid problem is not limited to Texas. The wildfires raging on the west coast of California also threaten the power supply of millions of people. Due to the impact of global climate change, people are more frequently exposed to severe weather. Extreme weather has brought more severe tests to the energy system.

When a crisis strikes, reliable power is one of the most important factors in restoring normal life. However, during a crisis, outdated energy networks cannot direct energy to where it is most needed. Currently, shutting down energy lines and implementing rolling blackouts can temporarily alleviate grid problems, but these are unsustainable solutions, which force the energy system to adjust quickly.

The current energy grid structure is fragile, with concentrated power generation mainly using carbon energy. The one-way flow of the grid makes it difficult for suppliers to control. The US government has proposed to eliminate carbon pollution in the power sector by 2035. The current energy system cannot adjust quickly or support 100% renewable energy, which is essential to achieving global climate goals.

Therefore, it is necessary to turn to renewable energy and build a smarter grid, and Intel technology provides an alternative to shutting down energy lines in times of crisis. Intel has developed technology solutions that will greatly simplify the grid, making it more reliable, adaptable and efficient.

Increase the use of renewable energy

To mitigate the effects of climate change, a grid that can better support renewable energy is needed. This grid system will not only create a clean energy future, but also be able to distribute clean energy to multiple areas at the edge of the grid and around it, ultimately forming a more resilient grid. This will no longer rely on power sources in central locations, which could have catastrophic consequences in an emergency.

At the same time, we also need a smarter grid. A smart grid must support the full range of flows to and from power generation sources required by renewable energy, balancing intermittent energy sources such as solar and wind in real time. It enables energy suppliers to flexibly distribute energy where and when it is most needed, and provide customers with the information they need to make environmentally friendly and economical energy choices.

The transition to a smart grid can be daunting, but our innovative technology solutions make it significantly easier. Ambitious climate action has upended the electricity delivery model, and the industry is currently undergoing a rapid and massive evolution.

Intel Technology is a Key Driver of Smart Grid Solutions

My team has been working on developing cutting-edge computing solutions that can be easily deployed into existing infrastructure to create a smarter grid and easily adapt to changing energy consumption needs. Our solution applies artificial intelligence and IoT technologies to existing systems to form a "flat grid". No matter where you are on the grid, the market can determine the highest and best source of energy. The flat grid is able to use 100% clean, renewable and intermittent energy and enter the real-time energy market.

Currently, utilities have many layers of applications that grow over time but don’t always work in unison. Our software-defined technology consolidates these applications into a single platform while also supporting new energy loads, enabling clean energy distributed at the edge of the grid. The platform includes AI-based decision making to sense and learn the best load balancing of distributed, intermittent clean energy. A containerized approach ensures that each application layer remains separated and secure. The platform distributes energy in the most efficient way, avoiding waste and reducing capital costs. It also reduces operating costs by providing a deep understanding of each substation and supporting predictive maintenance.

Intel and partners work together to optimize energy networks

Intel has been working with governments, businesses and utilities around the world to implement smart grid solutions. In Europe, Intel has worked with eight power companies to develop a flexible and manageable smart grid called the Edge for Smart Secondary Substations (E4S) Alliance. In the United States, Intel has worked with Southern California Edison to transform substation relays into virtualized applications, reducing deployment and maintenance costs and providing cybersecurity services for a more flexible, secure and modernized power grid. In Malaysia, Intel is working with the National Energy Company to digitize the grid, focusing on virtualized computing infrastructure and applications for substations and grid systems.

Increasing renewable energy consumption and supporting clean energy choices are important components of the sustainability pillar of Intel's RISE strategy, but the challenge of reshaping the power grid is difficult to achieve alone. Through Intel's comprehensive technology, connecting an ecosystem of unique capabilities consisting of utilities, governments, and technologies, energy networks can be transformed globally so that everyone can enjoy reliable renewable energy. In response to major global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development, Intel is committed to fulfilling its mission through the RISE strategy: to create world-changing technology that benefits everyone on the planet.

About Intel

As an industry leader, Intel creates world-changing technologies that drive global progress and enrich life. Inspired by Moore's Law, we are constantly committed to advancing semiconductor design and manufacturing to help our customers meet their greatest challenges. By integrating intelligence into the cloud, network, edge and various computing devices, we unleash the potential of data to help make business and society better.