Energy data to aid EVs

Amazon and Kiwi energy company Vector are forming a multi-year strategic alliance to develop a “New Energy Platform” (NEP) providing analytical data to make smarter decisions around EVs, battery storage and renewable energy.

The initial focus of the NEP is to rapidly collect and analyse data from more than 1.6 million Internet of Things (IoT) connected Vector advanced meters that securely gather information on energy consumption and network performance across Australia and New Zealand.

Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), the NEP is an analytics solution for the energy industry, and will be introduced first in Australia and New Zealand, where there are about 70 energy retailers and more than 40 distribution networks, to help deliver consumers more affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy options, Vector says.

The insights collected by the NEP will help Vector enable energy and utility companies to develop tailored product and pricing solutions for their customers based on their energy consumption habits.

The rise in renewable energy sources, EV growth, and higher consumer expectations for lower prices and sustainable energy sources require the energy industry to transform and harness the power of data to make smarter customer-centric decisions, Vector adds.

By increasing the capacity and rate of data collection, the NEP is designed to help Vector deliver advanced meter processing from 30 minute to five-minute intervals in Australia by 2021.

This aims to meet the requirements of the Five-Minute Settlement rule, an industry transformation introduced by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) designed to align price signals with real-time usage and lead to more efficient bidding, operational decisions, and investment.

NEP insights will enable energy and utility companies to develop innovative solutions and new market models that accelerate the uptake of renewables and EVs.

For example, the capacity of the NEP to rapidly process vast amounts of data means more precise information will be able to be provided to the energy market. This should result in accurate and dynamic pricing models for energy and utility companies that will incentivise the use of energy that is locally produced such as solar panels and micro grids or stored by consumers via batteries.

With focus on decarbonisation globally and the electrification of transport, this is a critical development for the energy sector to enable customers using new technologies to integrate seamlessly into existing energy systems, Vector says.

Vector and AWS intend hiring more than 30 skilled technology and engineering employees in New Zealand to help develop the NEP and associated applications.

“Consumers are demanding cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable energy, and through our alliance with AWS we are taking critical steps to transform how the energy industry operates,” Vector chief executive Simon Mackenzie says.

AWS commercial sector managing director Nick Walton says AWS sees New Zealand as a hub of innovation.