Digitalization in the Renewable Energy Sector
- Phuong Ha
- Apr 2
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Since 1999, the renewable energy industry has grown rapidly, fueled by technological advancements, supportive policies, and falling costs. By 2050, it is projected to become the dominant global energy source, surpassing fossil fuels and achieving the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.
Renewable energy is derived from naturally replenishing sources, such as sunlight, wind, and ocean tides, which are continuously restored by natural processes. These energy sources offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Although wind and solar energy can provide approximately 40% of today's power demand, reaching full reliance on renewables is still a challenge. Their variability makes it difficult to guarantee a stable and continuous energy supply.
To address these challenges in renewable energy, digital technologies have played a crucial role, enabling greater efficiency, scalability, and reliability. They not only support the expansion of renewables but also act as key drivers in the global energy transition. By enhancing energy management and grid stability, digital innovations are accelerating the widespread adoption of renewable energy.
Digitalization has been defined as the integration of digital technologies to transform business models, create new revenue streams, and enhance value generation. These technologies are already playing a crucial role in driving the adoption and expansion of renewable energy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), investments in digital power infrastructure, especially grid-related technologies, have risen by more than 50% since 2015. Over the past decade, renewable energy production has expanded by 128%, alongside a 147% increase in digital technology integration within power grids, underscoring their interconnected growth.
When evaluating the impact of digital technologies, it is essential to acknowledge that digitalization infrastructure consists of various types, each serving distinct roles within the energy sector. Below is an overview of the key digital technologies and their applications in the industry.
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Benefits of Digitalization in Renewable Energy
Digitalization is transforming the renewable energy sector by enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving reliability. Here are the key benefits:
Case study: How Ampotech is Driving Smart Energy Efficiency Through Digitalization
Ampotech, a Singapore-based energy technology company, has effectively harnessed digitalization to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability across various projects. By integrating advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics, Ampotech has demonstrated significant benefits in the energy sector.
In fact, one of these products is Ampotech Chiller Optimization, focusing on how AI-based energy management by forecasting enhances cooling efficiency. The system takes multiple input factors, including time of day, people counting, outdoor weather conditions, room characteristics, and indoor temperature and humidity levels. These inputs are processed using AI to generate two key outputs: cooling load forecasts for each room/area and dynamic setting point adjustments to optimize cooling efficiency.
In comparison to traditional static calculations (such as those from the ASHRAE handbook), Ampotech’s AI-driven system continuously adapts by using real-time sensor data on temperature and humidity. This feedback loop allows the system to dynamically adjust cooling requirements, reducing errors in forecasts and improving energy efficiency. The approach enhances operational performance, ensuring that cooling systems respond to real-world conditions rather than relying on fixed estimates.
By leveraging digitalization and AI, Ampotech’s chiller optimization helps businesses reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and improve indoor comfort. The smart automation process ensures efficient cooling distribution across different zones, making the system ideal for buildings, offices, and industrial facilities.
In addition, Ampotech’s IoT-based energy monitoring and management system is an innovative solution that integrates cloud computing with industrial protocols to ensure efficient data collection and analysis. The system is built around essential sensors, an Ampo Gateway, and energy meters, all connected via wireless or wired industrial protocols. These sensors continuously capture real-time data on energy consumption and environmental conditions, which is then transmitted through a 4G M2M network to the AmpoCloud platform for processing and analysis.
The AmpoCloud acts as a centralized cloud-based platform, enabling remote monitoring, data storage, and analytics. The Ampo Gateway plays a crucial role in bridging the sensors and energy meters with cloud services, ensuring seamless data flow. Through IoT connectivity, businesses can track energy performance, detect inefficiencies, and optimize power usage dynamically.
The lower section represents the Building Management System (BMS), which integrates with Ampotech’s energy monitoring system via a wired industrial protocol. The BMS consists of a network switch connecting various computing devices and control units, ensuring centralized automation and decision-making for energy efficiency.
By combining IoT, cloud computing, and industrial automation, this system enhances energy optimization, reduces costs, improves equipment maintenance, and enables predictive analytics for smarter energy management in buildings and industrial facilities.
In additon, Ampotech’s IoT-based energy monitoring and management system is an innovative solution that integrates cloud computing with industrial protocols to ensure efficient data collection and analysis. The system is built around essential sensors, an Ampo Gateway, and energy meters, all connected via wireless or wired industrial protocols. These sensors continuously capture real-time data on energy consumption and environmental conditions, which is then transmitted through a 4G M2M network to the AmpoCloud platform for processing and analysis.
The AmpoCloud acts as a centralized cloud-based platform, enabling remote monitoring, data storage, and analytics. The Ampo Gateway plays a crucial role in bridging the sensors and energy meters with cloud services, ensuring seamless data flow. Through IoT connectivity, businesses can track energy performance, detect inefficiencies, and optimize power usage dynamically.
The lower section represents the Building Management System (BMS), which integrates with Ampotech’s energy monitoring system via a wired industrial protocol. The BMS consists of a network switch connecting various computing devices and control units, ensuring centralized automation and decision-making for energy efficiency.
By combining IoT, cloud computing, and industrial automation, this system enhances energy optimization, reduces costs, improves equipment maintenance, and enables predictive analytics for smarter energy management in buildings and industrial facilities.
Case study: AI-Powered Solar Solutions - GetSolar’s Impact on Homes and Businesses
GetSolar is a Singapore-based company specializing in solar panel installations, aiming to simplify the adoption of solar energy for property owners.
Solar AI's digital ecosystem demonstrated how the company leverages AI, IoT, and cloud technologies to streamline solar adoption. Solar AI provides an integrated platform connecting property owners, project financiers, and solar installers, facilitating seamless collaboration in the solar energy sector.
At the core of the system is the Solar CRM and EPC Platform, which manages the end-to-end solar project lifecycle. The corporate website and solar simulator use AI-driven analytics to help property owners estimate solar potential and financial returns. A customer portal provides users with real-time updates on their solar projects, improving transparency and engagement.
Through IoT-enabled sensors, the platform can track energy consumption, solar panel efficiency, and maintenance needs. The EPC platform optimizes project execution by ensuring proper coordination between installers and financiers. By leveraging cloud-based infrastructure, Solar AI enables remote access to critical project data, making solar adoption more efficient.
The integration of big data analytics allows the system to provide predictive insights, reducing costs and improving solar deployment. Overall, Solar AI's digital ecosystem accelerates the transition to clean energy by making solar solutions smarter, more accessible, and financially viable.
Conclusion: A Digital Future for Renewable Energy
Digitalization is key to making renewable energy more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. By leveraging AI, IoT, and blockchain, we can build a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable energy future.
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