The situation is exacerbated by loadshedding, exorbitantly high electricity prices, aging infrastructure, financial limitations, and complex political landscapes and the professor is taking a moment to assess the current state of the SA electricity grid.
“Loadshedding has become a distressing aspect of daily life, interrupting routines, crippling productivity, and diminishing our quality of life. Beyond merely alleviating this crisis, we need to fundamentally transform our energy landscape. So, can AI be the answer we’re looking for?” he asks.
He points out that AI presents remarkable opportunities, especially in optimising operations within the electricity sector. One significant application he mentions is in energy demand forecasting.
“By employing machine learning algorithms, we can analyse vast datasets that include historical consumption patterns, seasonal fluctuations, temperature changes, and even trends derived from social media. This enhanced forecasting is crucial in predicting spikes in electricity demand—enabling grid operators to allocate resources efficiently and avoid situations leading to loadshedding.”
He goes into all the ways Artificial Intelligence can be used in creating tariff modelling, handling data analysis or predictive maintenance.
In the end though, Padayachee reminds that using AI cannot be done in isolation, but has to be part of a holistic approach.
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