SCALE SUSTAINABLY: MEETING RENEWABLE ENERGY CHALLENGES WITH SCALABLE SOLUTIONS

To meet the rising demand for renewable energy, clean energy producers are expanding, adding diverse assets to their portfolios, and doubling or even tripling in size.

This is an exciting time as we look to phase out the use of fossil fuels and contribute to a cleaner world, but, for expansion to be sustainable, it needs to be built on a foundation that can support the expected growth. This is forcing owners and operators to take a good, hard look at their current software systems.

Our Ask an Expert video series, “Scale Sustainably,” takes a closer look at this. In the three-part series, Abilash Krishnan, Power Factors’ Chief Product Officer, discusses the role scalable software plays in the growth of the renewables industry, the challenges organizations commonly face when trying to scale, and why scalable software is necessary to leverage the overwhelming volume of data that comes with growth.

SCALABLE SOFTWARE FOR INDUSTRY GROWTH 

So, what exactly does scalability entail? Simply put, scalability refers to a system’s capacity to increase its impact and capabilities without a linear increase in costs. This concept is critical for owners and operators of renewable energy assets, as they face some tough questions today.

• Will my current asset performance management system scale with me?
• Can it handle the volume of data that comes with expansion?
• Will my software make sense of this influx of data, or will my data become a liability?
• And will my current system allow me to grow two or three times as large as I am today? Because that’s the future.

Unfortunately, most of the systems used today are inadequate for this scale of growth, meaning their use opens owners and operators up to the risk of being left behind in the market. And without software that can help renewable energy producers deliver electricity to the market in a stable and secure way, the renewable energy transition itself is at risk. So, when it comes to renewable energy, scalable software isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for moving forward.

Watch part one of the Scale Sustainably video series “How Software Powers Renewable Energy Growth” for more insights into the role scalable software plays in the growth of the renewable energy industry.

Part 1: Scale Sustainably: How Software Powers Renewable Energy Growth

THE CHALLENGES OF SCALING RENEWABLE OPERATIONS 

Right now, we’re seeing a surge in new assets coming online, including solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage, to accommodate the increased demand for renewable energy. In fact, it’s becoming the norm to see hybrid plants featuring wind or solar plus battery energy storage systems (BESS), creating additional ways to make money from renewable energy assets.

While this growth is exciting and necessary, it doesn’t come without challenges. The costs associated with more MW under management can be daunting, and it can become increasingly difficult to keep teams lean.

Plus, the volume of data generated by your growing renewables portfolio can be overwhelming if you don’t have a modern, scalable asset management platform to help you make sense of it all.

In the second part of our “Scale Sustainably” series, “Balancing Growth and Efficiency in Renewable Energy,” Abilash dives into the challenges of expansion, from managing the increasing costs and keeping operational teams lean, to ensuring the reliability of their data. 

Part 2: Scale Sustainably: Balancing Growth and Efficiency in Renewable Energy

A PLATFORM DESIGNED TO SCALE 

Anticipating the inevitable growth in the renewable energy market, Power Factors proactively began developing the roadmap for a software platform designed with scalability at its core. The recent announcement of the Unity platform underscores our dedication to empowering renewable energy leaders to grow sustainably, make smarter decisions, and stay agile as the world rapidly transitions to clean energy.  

Unity’s scalable architecture, simplified processes, user-friendly design, and robust data management capabilities are designed to make managing and scaling renewable energy operations more achievable and manageable today and into the future.  

Watch part three of the Scale Sustainably video series, “Future-Proofing Renewable Energy Expansion,” to learn more about Power Factors’ commitment to the future of renewable energy and how the Unity platform can support the industry’s growth goals in a sustainable way.  

Part 3: Scale Sustainably: Future-Proofing Renewable Energy Expansion

Interested in learning more about Power Factors’ Unity platform? Get in touch!