Iberdrola, through its US subsidiary, Avangrid, has set up a Data Science and Analysis team to develop unique and patented Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that will focus on improving the reliability of its network and maintaining the highest quality standards for its customers. Once completed, these machine learning models will change the way the company approaches network investments, equipment upgrades, storm forecasting, among other issues.
Avangrid's new Data Science and Analytics analytics team consists of seven data scientists, engineers and analysts who come from prestigious industries such as healthcare, astrophysics and finance. The team is creating three unique AI systems: Predictive Health Analytics, GeoMesh and HealthAI.
Each technology will take existing data from Avangrid companies' power grids and analyze it to forecast future grid performance, determine the condition of grid equipment, and select risk locations for inspections and investments. Ultimately, this will lead to a higher quality of service for the 2.31 million electric customers served by Avangrid's subsidiaries, Central Maine Power, New York State Electric & Gas, Rochester Gas and Electric and United Illuminating.
This project takes a proactive approach to determining the status of substation equipment and uses data to prioritize planned replacements and upgrades. Traditionally, equipment is replaced mainly based on its age or if it malfunctions and causes an interruption. On the contrary, the goal is for the Predictive Health Analytics system to take a proactive, data-driven approach to determining the condition of the equipment based on numerous factors, including age, frequency of use, manufacturer and maintenance notifications.
This means Avangrid will save money and help reduce outages for customers by replacing at-risk equipment before it causes an outage.
"We are reinventing what is possible for a utility in terms of data science and analysis," says Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid. "Traditionally, we have partnered with third parties to integrate this type of technology into our business. Now we have the internal talent to create machine learning models that will be Avangrid's and, as a member of the Iberdrola Group, we are also collaborating with our global colleagues to support us with their experience and knowledge. Owning these AI systems will allow us to continuously improve them while reducing costs and increasing efficiency."
ENERGY LEADER IN THE UNITED STATES
In less than two decades, Iberdrola has become one of the largest groups in the North American electricity sector, having been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2015.
Headquartered in Orange, Connecticut, and with approximately $40 billion in assets, the firm is present in 24 states and manages about 10,000 MW of installed capacity, of which more than 8,600 MW of renewables (mainly wind and solar photovoltaic), and more than 130,000 kilometers of power lines through eight distributors in New York, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts. The company serves a population of 10 million people in the United States.
Iberdrola has a portfolio of high-quality renewable projects in the United States totaling more than 25,000 MW, which represent a stable platform for continued growth over the next few years as the country meets its decarbonization goals.
Avangrid continues to make significant progress in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) fields. This month it has repeated, for the sixth consecutive year, in the FTSE4Good index.
