Over the last few years, big data has become central to the energy sector. The energy industry employs data scientists to help reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainability. Data analytics is used to identify ways to improve efficiency and make the industry more sustainable. Doing so helps reduce costs, optimize decision-making and investments, and improve overall monitoring.
Here’s how data science impacts the energy industry.
Improves Customer Experience
Energy companies use customer analytics to improve customer experience and generate greater profits. Data scientists use customer analytics software to collect valuable information regarding consumer behavior, including their energy usage patterns.
Data analysis allows energy providers to understand customer needs and optimize power solutions to meet those needs.
Balances Supply & Demand
The energy industry frequently encounters challenges in supply and demand. Balancing the two is essential for effective energy management. A high energy demand leads can lead to alarmingly high expenses.
Energy companies use data science to develop efficient response strategies for changing demands. Big data analytics creates a balance between company supply and market demand through real-time management applications.
Energy providers can also use mapping tools and location intelligence analytics to effectively:
- Monitor energy consumption metrics
- Use the insights to adjust the energy supply strategies.
Improve Outage Prediction
Thousands of businesses are affected by power outages. While these occurrences have become less common over the past years, they’re still considered a threat to business productivity and operations. Unexpected circumstances and unpredictable weather conditions can result in sudden and prolonged power outages, bringing business activities to a halt.
Energy companies use data science solutions to address this challenge. They use big data analytics to predict and detect power outages. The data analytics tools and technologies allow energy companies to gain valuable insights regarding weather conditions and their effects on power grids, helping them determine which areas are likely to be impacted by potential outages.(Hard-to-read sentence)
Data analytics can also help energy providers identify the causes of power outages in different areas. They can use the energy metrics to develop and implement new measures to maintain a steady energy flow and inform people of potential outages in advance.
Implement Smart Grid Security
Keeping up with the growing energy demand also means addressing another challenge: energy theft. Several individuals and businesses resort to unlawful means to acquire electricity. According to recent statistics, energy companies lose $89.3 billion annually to energy theft.
Data science helps energy companies prevent energy theft. Data engineers can use advanced tools, statistical analysis, and customer behavior to monitor energy consumption patterns in specific areas. This allows them to detect instances of energy theft or similar attempts. They can identify the actors involved in energy theft and make effective business decisions. They can also use the latest metering infrastructures to report energy usage, allowing them to keep an eye on the energy flow and detect irregularities (This is why it is so crucial for data specialists to keep updating their knowledge and skills through data science courses, for example).
Our team at PREDIK Data-Driven offers big data analytics solutions to companies in the energy industry. Contact us for more details or request a demo.
