UTILITY WEEK | 6TH - 12TH APRIL 2018 |
25
Operations & Assets
Views from
the table:
1. The more
understanding you
have of data, the less
redundant assets
you have – you don't
need to build more,
you just need to
work smarter.
2. Storage is a big
issue, especially
relating to
renewables. Quick
understanding of
this will help with
frequency response,
and this is a huge
opportunity for
automation and AI.
3. Digitising
infrastructures
and proactive
maintenance (as
opposed to reactive)
are key areas.
4. Even the most
advanced among
us are still in the
early stages of
understanding what
AI can do for the
industry.
5. Data can give
you a competitive
advantage and using
AI and automation
in the right way can
allow you to harness
that data effectively.
Key points
Mark Herring, head of innovation
strategy, National Grid
"To build the business
case for automation
investment, you need
engagement – and
that means finding
the people within
your company who
are really on board
and want to make a
difference, not just
necessarily the people
at the top."
Dan Hopkinson, head of network
and EMI services, Electralink
"AI can add value
and move the data
we have back to
everyone, in a single
decentralised point.
That's the future."
Sean Heshmat, AVP venture
leader, Cognizant
"Part of the challenge
of automation and AI
for more established
players is the culture
of retraining, but you
get to the point with
technology where eve-
ryone must adopt it if
they want to survive."
Gautham Krishnadas, research
engineer, Flexitricity
"AI can augment and
enhance existing
work. It's not simply a
question of scrapping
what was already
there – there's a right
way to introduce it,
and this is vital."
Brought to you in
association with
Richard Abba, senior project
manager, Engie
"Automation allows
good employees
– who you hired
because they are
talented – to better
utilise the skills you
employed them for by
freeing them from the
daily admin churn."
®
Charles Grey, head of technology
UK at Just Energy
"Let people tell you
how they feel AI can
enhance their roles,
not just replace them."
