Building smarter, more adaptable energy infrastructure

A more intelligent grid, including smart energy management, is important to unlocking the potential of renewables. This goes beyond power lines, encompassing cutting-edge technologies that revolutionize the way we generate, manage and distribute energy.  

Traditional grids were designed for the one-way, constant flow of electricity from centralized natural gas or coal-fired power plants to end users, whether consumers or businesses. By contrast, renewable energy sources are variable and intermittent.

Solar panels, wind turbines and even electric vehicles (EVs) with bi-directional charging capabilities are becoming important pieces of the energy puzzle, with end users no longer just consuming electricity, but also generating it. An intelligent grid acts like the brain of this new energy system, integrating these distributed energy resources (DERs), anticipating fluctuations in renewable energy production, storing excess power – with battery energy storage systems or hydrogen, for example – when generation is high and distributing it when demand rises.

Intelligent energy management

A smart grid can not only forecast energy needs and optimize power flows in real-time, but also seamlessly integrate the fluctuating output of renewable energy sources. Sensors strategically placed throughout the grid collect data on voltage, current and power quality. Advanced algorithms are then used to identify patterns, predict energy demands and suggest instant adjustments based on energy loads and the watts available.  

In industry, ABB's distributed control systems (DCS) play a critical role in ensuring reliable power supply, even with the intermittent nature of renewable sources like solar and wind. These systems constantly monitor power demands in real-time and adjust energy flows accordingly within  an industrial facility – boosting electricity to a critical part of the production while reducing it for a lower-priority loads.

Highlighting the potential of smarter grids for renewable energy integration, ABB Ability™ OPTIMAX® technology is supporting Trondheim, Norway's aim to become a “climate-positive” city. This solution helps the city manage energy use in buildings, optimizing energy consumption and balancing supply and demand with a high penetration of renewables.  

Trondheim's local energy trading platform, where surplus green energy can be sold, further demonstrates the potential for a decentralized and sustainable energy future. This project serves as a real-world example of how ABB's technologies can empower communities to not only integrate renewables but also create a smarter, more efficient energy ecosystem. 

Grid stability and resilience

The Faroe Islands, a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic, have set an ambitious goal: transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy. However, integrating variable renewable sources like wind and solar raises the prospect of unstable power supply. This is where ABB's innovative synchronous condenser technology comes in. 

These machines mimic traditional generators, providing "spinning inertia" that acts like a virtual flywheel, using the kinetic energy of a rotating mass to resist sudden changes in frequency when renewable energy sources fluctuate.  

As the Faroe Islands phase out diesel generators, ABB's solution ensures a stable grid even when the sun isn’t shining, or the wind isn’t blowing. This project serves as a model for like-minded jurisdictions with aggressive renewable energy targets. 

Solar

ABB’s portfolio of products, systems and services for the solar power industry is extensive, ranging from power and automation solutions for utilities to commercial, industrial and residential rooftop photovoltaic installations. This includes distribution systems and software that ensure the availability of photovoltaics; switching equipment that adjusts voltage for integration with the local grid; and protection devices that keep electrical components and workers safe.

One example is the Cirata floating solar plant, the largest “floatovoltaic” system of its kind in Southeast Asia. This innovative 192 MW solar facility uses ABB switchgear and power protection equipment to ensure the reliable integration of the plant's electricity into the grid, even across vast distances.

Before anyone can deploy, integrate or optimize renewable energy sources, the underlying infrastructure must be built. ABB is also supporting the wider renewables value chain, beginning with the manufacturing of solar panels.  

ABB’s industrial robots are helping Sweden’s Absolicon enhance their production of solar collectors, enabling the company to assemble a panel every six minutes compared to just three units per day with manual methods. By automating these tasks, ABB's robots contribute to a more efficient manufacturing process, ultimately making solar a more cost-competitive energy source.  

Wind

Like solar, wind farms are a significant contributor to the global energy transition. ABB is the largest manufacturer of systems and services for wind farms, providing power converters, generators, electrical panels, remote monitoring and management services and more to customers in the wind energy sector.  

One example of ABB solutions in action comes from the world's largest offshore wind farm – the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the United Kingdom. Here, ABB’s wind converters ensure that the variable power generated by the farm’s wind turbines is effectively converted and seamlessly integrated into the national grid. By providing this essential technology, ABB is helping to unlock the full potential of offshore wind energy, a crucial renewable resource in the fight against climate change. 

Geothermal

ABB is also supporting the development of geothermal resources, as with Indonesia-based Kaishan Group. ABB's high-performance synchronous generators play a crucial role in their facilities, ensuring efficient and reliable power plant operation.

This project is just one illustration of ABB's commitment to providing solutions to improve capacity across the renewable energy spectrum.