Energy: from consumers to flexumers

How to stay current in the energy sector

The energy value chain starts with energy generation from resources such as fossil fuels, nuclear power, or renewable sources (e.g., the wind or the sun). Large power lines then transmit it over long distances to regional grids, from where it is distributed to our homes, businesses, and industries for consumption. delaware helps energy companies to handle industry-specific challenges and maximize assets – along the entire value chain.

Challenges in the energy sector

In 2023, renewable energy saw its biggest growth in 20 years, with the world moving towards renewable energy to cut CO2 emissions, ensure sustainability, and secure affordable energy. The share of renewable energy sources in the total energy mix will increase even further. To ensure a reliable and resilient energy system, we see these trends in the industry:

The transition to a net-zero future requires massive investments in grid infrastructure and renewable energy sources such as wind farms, solar panels, green hydrogen, biomass, and ocean energy sources. With a growing electrification demand through the adoption of industrial electrification, the increase of electric vehicles and electric heating of buildings, the rapid expansion of data centers, the pace of these investments must speed up to ensure a reliable and resilient energy system.
Investing in infrastructure alone won’t solve all the problems. To efficiently handle congestion issues, the energy sector needs to unlock demand-side flexibility. That will enable consumers to adjust how and when they use electricity, so they can help balance the energy supply and avoid strain on the grid. Smart data platforms are essential to monitor that usage, report data in real time, and securely share that information with retailers (i.e. GDPR-proof), so they can offer the best possible contracts.
With tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and big data analytics, organizations can automate and optimize asset management, shift towards predictive maintenance and boost operational excellence. Additionally, this will allow for smarter investment decisions and more grid stability. However, that data-centric model asks for significant improvements in data management and protection.

Our electrifying solutions for the energy sector

Utility companies possess an enormous amount of customer data. Maximizing those is vital to determine the best possible investments, optimize the grid infrastructure and its maintenance, etc. Enter delaware.

Fanning new flames

Use data to ensure regulatory compliance: The energy sector needs to take into account multiple regulations regarding environmental standards, grid reliability, and customer services. Data platforms make it easier to collect the necessary information and to report it accurately to the regulatory authorities, ensuring compliance.
Expand the (green) community: A personalized online portal can give customers valuable insights into their energy consumption, provide energy advice and encourage more sustainable behaviors.

Keeping your spark

Boost operational excellence: Energy providers should evolve from preventive, partially automated processes to predictive maintenance, optimized maintenance schedules, automated resource allocation, and real-time confirmation of maintenance execution.
Adopt a data-driven approach: Advanced technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, big data analytics) can automate and streamline overall energy utility operations, including communication systems, asset management and customer service.
Make the best possible investments: Targeted investments decisions for demand-side flexibility, decentralized storage facilities at the edges of existing networks, and grid updates are essential to keep system costs under control.

Parkwind heads to the cloud

Parkwind N.V. has been specializing in offshore wind energy for over a decade – with the belief that wind energy is key to a sustainable future. As a part of Japanese energy pioneer JERA, the organization needed a way to consistently report on its separate wind farms – while respecting its international growth spurt. delaware kicked off the implementation of SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition proved to be the ideal solution. delaware completed the implementation in just six months.

Why delaware?

delaware’s top-notch Energy & Utility team boasts all the expertise and resources your energy organization could ever need. We are an experienced business and technology partner who truly understands your specific challenges, and how to address them – while never losing sight of your unique business identity.

From cloud migrations over field service management to sales and service management, and the configuration of your data information platform, we can help. Leveraging insights from a variety of sectors, we’re with you at every step of your data-driven journey: developing your data ecosystem, collecting the right data, validating and protecting them, etc. Moreover, our sustainability practices will help you operate efficiently while you keep meeting your environmental goals.