What will it take to truly digitalise the European power grid?

As Europe’s electricity system becomes more decentralised and volatile, digital technologies are moving from optional add-ons to core infrastructure. But while AI dominates the conversation, Mann draws a clear line between long-established machine learning tools and newer generative AI applications, which are still searching for scalable business cases.

So what does “digitalising the grid” actually involve in times of rapid innovation and change?

According to Mann, it is not about a single technology. It is about building a technology stack that enables advanced grid functionalities – allowing operators to manage renewables, decentralised energy resources and growing electrification across transport and heating.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: 

• What grid digitalisation actually means in technical and operational terms;
• How advanced digital functionalities help operators manage renewables, decentralised energy resources and rising electrification in transport and heating;
• Why flexibility and “flexumers” are central to the future system;
• The growing importance of data governance, harmonisation and digital skills in Europe’s energy transition;
• The impact of “capex bias” and how current regulatory models can disadvantage software and digital investments;
• How grid digitalisation represents a system-wide change management challenge.

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Read more on the power grid: 
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IEA urges grid and flexibility plan to meet electricity boom