We are thrilled to share the groundbreaking ViSION project with Electricity Distribution Businesses (EDBs) across New Zealand.
Visibility and System Insights for the Orion Network (ViSION) is an ambitious initiative aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the Orion low voltage network, which, like most EDBs, was originally designed for passive household loads with one-way power flow. However, with the rise of solar energy and electric vehicles, consumer needs have evolved, necessitating two-way power flow.
The low voltage network supplies over 99% of customers, yet visibility into its condition and behavior has been limited. ViSION addresses this gap by bringing together three critical strands of data for analysis: smart meter operational data, low voltage distribution transformer monitors, and improved network topology data. This comprehensive approach will improve the accuracy of planned engineering solutions, drive cost efficiencies and increase network reliability.
We are committed to transparency and collaboration, with all key insights being shared with other NZ EDBs. This includes a presentation given by Orion Power Systems Manager Yuyin Kueh on "The Sea of Data: Orion's Approach to Leveraging Datasets for Enhancing Network Management Practices," which won the 'IET Best Presentation' award at last years EEA Conference.
Yuyin's work highlights how Orion is making sense of vast amounts of data to enhance network management.
"Our approach to leveraging datasets is transforming how we manage the network, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of our consumers," says Yuyin.
"By sharing our findings and methodologies, we aim to foster a collaborative environment where all EDBs can benefit from our learnings and innovations."
In addition to the IET Best Presentation award for Yuyin’s presentation, Orion Head of Data and Artificial Intelligence Peter Jaksons was awarded ‘Best Paper – Member’ for his presentation on “Unlocking Efficiency and Innovation: The crucial role of data governance and a modern data platform in Orion’s AI adoption”. This demonstrated how Orion is using AI to help make sense of all the data available and deal with the security and storage of this amount of data.
The ViSION project is now nearing completion, with Phase 1 focused on data collection and Phase 2 on advanced data analysis. This initiative not only enhances Orion's network management but also sets a precedent for industry-wide improvements.
For more information, visit our ViSION project page