Virtually every industry is becoming increasingly data-driven to keep up with today’s fast-paced business landscape. Big data solutions are essential for modern companies, as they help streamline operations, boost productivity and meet the bottom line.

The utility industry is undergoing a major overhaul in terms of digitization. Companies understand they must evolve in the era of big data, which involves adopting new technologies, updating operational processes and keeping up with ever-changing demands. As data analytics becomes more prevalent in utility operations, it will play a vital role in this industry’s growth and can offer important benefits.

Itron, which offers solutions for energy and water resource management, released a 2022 report analyzing how utility companies and cities were leveraging data analytics solutions. It discusses key findings from surveys of 600 utility executives and 600 informed customers from five countries, including the United States, Spain, India, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Itron’s report suggests that more than 9 out of 10 survey participants agree that leveraging real-time data analytics insights is very important. Disruptors in the industry are evolving, requiring the latest solutions to keep up and improve C-suite decision-making. For instance, electric companies handling pole inspections and inventories are notoriously siloed, meaning departments often neglect the company’s data needs, according to a March 2022 report from utility software provider Ike. Pole inspection and inventory data must be reformatted to prepare it for new data analytics.

This is only one example, but consider the other types of utilities and how many departments could benefit from a more comprehensive data management and analytics solution. Utility executives know that harnessing the power of data for analysis is something they must adapt to in the next few years.

Itron’s report also suggests that personalized utility insights for customers could be a major trend in the industry going forward. Companies that offer customers the ability to gain insight into their energy and water systems enable them to make better decisions regarding their bills and energy consumption. The report even suggests people are willing to pay more if providers offer personalized insights.

Eco-friendly consumers can also choose new electrical, water or heating and cooling systems to improve energy-efficiency and create a more environmentally friendly home or business.

Data analytics can also benefit utilities in terms of cybersecurity. Utilities are not immune from cyberattacks—in fact, the energy and utility sector is a major target for cybercrime, according to a July 2022 article in IIOT Power.

It’s no surprise that threat actors target these companies as more tech emerges in the field. They see an expanded attack surface and an increased likelihood of making a significant profit from attacking critical infrastructure. Any utility company must therefore understand the importance of cybersecurity as analytics becomes ubiquitous. These solutions must have various preventive security measures to be used effectively, whether water or electric utility data analytics.

According to the report, in the next five years, utilities will leverage data analytics capabilities, particularly those with compatible edge intelligence devices. The industrial internet of things and other advanced analytics devices will play a crucial role in effective analytics.

Leveraging tech investments equipped with edge computing technologies is a no-brainer for utilities. They can collect massive amounts of operational data while decreasing latency, ultimately speeding up decision-making processes.

Operating at the edge could have a major impact on the quality of life of utility customers due to the increasing severity of weather events. Managing extreme conditions is a challenge for utilities, but the edge is a transformational technology expected to increase efficiency and facilitate faster response times to significant events.

The report further notes that while utility companies might struggle to adopt and implement new data analytics solutions, these tools will become indispensable in the digital age.

Now is the time for leaders in the energy and utility industry to stay abreast of current trends, explore opportunities with data analytics vendors and begin the procurement process. The future of utilities will increasingly rely on data analytics solutions and the benefits they provide.

The global mobile light tower market, valued at $1.9 billion in 2021, is expected to reach a $3.1 billion valuation by 2031. A September 2022 report published by Allied Market Research details the causes and trends leading to the expected 5.2% compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2031.

An increase in infrastructure projects is the leading growth factor. Construction applications led the market growth, specifically the highway, railway and bridge construction segments. Mobile light towers are essential on construction sites that lack adequate lighting and for nighttime operations. In addition, using light towers on railway, highway, roadway, sewer, power and other infrastructure projects increases worker safety and productivity.

A mobile light tower uses an array of electric lamps affixed to the top of a mast. The tower is positioned on top of a trailer, allowing easy transportation from site to site. A generator at the back of the trailer illuminates the lights using diesel, solar, battery power or hybrid methods.

The global light tower market forecast was segmented based on power source, lighting type, technology, application and region. North America accounts for the largest mobile light tower market share, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Key findings of the study based on 2021 mobile light tower data include:

• Diesel accounted for the largest share of power sources.
• Metal halide was the leading lighting type used.
• The leading technology used was manual.
• Construction was the leading application for use of mobile light towers.

The surge in demand for mobile tower lights has prompted new product development. In 2021, for example, Generac Power Systems Inc., developed an all-in-one mobile lighting tower capable of operating with diesel, battery, hybrid, external power and solar energy as a single machine.

While the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic temporarily impacted mobile light tower market growth, the effect has subsided. Vaccine and distancing initiatives, supplemented by increased government infrastructure funding, have allowed once-halted construction operations to move forward.

The role of buildings in advancing clean and efficient energy technology has been well established.

Now buildings are getting smarter and are connecting to form their own communities that achieve even greater levels of energy innovation.

On Nov. 2, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) kicked off what it is referring to as a “new era for grid-efficient buildings.” The event marked the launch of the DOE’s Connected Communities cohort. This is a collaboration of nine projects, each of which were awarded funding by the DOE for their own innovation in connected energy-efficient buildings. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is acting as the national coordinator for this cohort.

The DOE’s Connected Communities is intended to drive innovation in building energy consumption by emphasizing how groups of buildings can work together to maximize the use of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar power, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, battery storage and other state-of-the-art technology.

The DOE defines a connected community as a group of grid-interactive efficient buildings with diverse, flexible end-use equipment and other DERs that work collectively to maximize building, community and grid efficiency while still meeting occupants’ needs and comforts.

Last year, the department issued a large funding opportunity announcement and selected projects that demonstrate how connected communities can serve as assets to the electrical grid. The cohort that was kicked off earlier this month represents a collaboration of the nine projects that were awarded funding. They will share information, challenges and best practices to achieve greater building energy efficiency through connectivity.

One example of an awarded project is The Ohio State University’s cybersecure orchestrated control of DERs across an array of diverse campus buildings.

Another cohort is the utility Portland General Electric that is working to achieve 1.4 megawatts (MW) of flexible loads by retrofitting nearly 600 commercial and residential buildings.

Similarly, in Spokane, Wash., Edo Energy is striving to achieve between 1 and 2.3 MW of flexible loads by retrofitting heat pumps, water heaters, control systems and other resources in an all-electric virtual power plant that will help defer capital investment for a 55-MW peak substation.

In Raleigh, N.C., IBACOS Inc. will connect hundreds of new and existing homes to solar power, battery storage and smart thermostats.

Despite its growing popularity, solar power remains a luxury that, typically, only more affluent households can afford, due mostly to the high costs of installation.

However, recent statistics show that the technology is not completely exclusive. A greater share of lower-income households and neighborhoods are having rooftop panels installed.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released the latest edition of its annual report, Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends. This November 2022 edition, updated from its initial 2022 report released in February, is based on address-level data for 2.8 million residential households across the country that have installed solar on-site. The latest update includes data on systems installed through 2021.

The report reveals some unsurprising statistics. For example, the median income for solar adopters was $110,000. This is above the national average of $79,000, and confirms that households with solar are more likely to have above-average means.

However, a closer look at the results reveals that solar technology is not exclusively for the rich. Several statistics show that the average income is trending downward, indicating that solar is becoming more accessible to those in lower-income tiers.

For example, according to the report, the average household income of solar adopters in 2010 was $129,000. This represents a drop of almost $20,000 in 11 years.

Also, the median income figure reveals that while half of the nation’s households with solar have incomes above $110,000, an equal number have incomes below that level.

Looking at that lower half a little more closely, the report finds that roughly one-third of all households that installed solar in 2021 had incomes between $50,000 and $100,000. Another 15% of households had incomes below $50,000. The most well-represented income category was composed of those households with incomes between $75,000 and $100,000. They comprised roughly 18% of the total number of households that installed solar last year.

The report also finds that the share of the solar market in disadvantaged communities has been rising over time. According to Department of Energy figures, the percentage of residential solar installations in these communities has more than doubled from 5% in 2010 to 11% in 2021.

Lastly, the report finds that solar markets are also moving into less-affluent states. While roughly half of the nation’s solar adopters are in California, which is a relatively high-income state, the market for solar is growing in states like Texas and Florida, which are considered middle- and low-income states, respectively.

Aggressive driving—a term coined in the 1990s—consists of several potentially dangerous behaviors, such as speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, changing lanes without signaling and running red lights and stop signs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) further defines aggressive driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.”

The National Conference of State Legislatures found that excessive speed was a factor in 27% of all fatal crashes in 2015, with a cost of $40 billion annually. Additionally, if speed increases by 50%, the energy released in a crash more than doubles.

Aggressive driving can escalate to “road rage,” a more extreme version of aggressive driving, typified by cursing, obscene gestures, ramming, sideswiping or running other vehicles off the road. It’s important to distinguish between aggressive driving—a traffic violation—and road rage—a criminal offense. Data compiled in 2019 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicated that almost 80% of drivers exhibit aggression, road rage or significant anger while behind the wheel.

“Aggressive drivers hurt their fleets,” said Belinda Rueffer, vice president of marketing at GPS Insight, Scottsdale, Ariz. In addition to the obvious safety concern, aggressive driving can increase fuel costs. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that aggressive driving can decrease gas mileage by 15%–30% on highways and 10%–40% in cities. This can have a cumulative impact on a fleet’s budget.

To counteract the negative effects of aggressive driving, fleet manager can use telematics and smart dash cams to collect data on each of their driver’s behaviors and implement driver coaching. These measures can help fleet managers end aggressive driving, cut expenses, improve efficiency and protect drivers.

“Using telematics and dashcams can help reduce aggressive driving by revealing each driver’s behavior,” Rueffer said. “Telematics can monitor a driver’s speeding, harsh braking and other bad habits, identifying coaching—and discipline—opportunities.”

Telematics combined with dashcams can also protect drivers by determining if a behavior was warranted in the context of their driving conditions, thereby boosting safety and reducing accidents. 

Rueffer observed that even experienced, conscientious drivers can lose control when furious or agitated. “On-time delivery or service demands and long hours on the road can make fleet drivers hostile,” she said. “Putting an end to aggressive driving is in the best interest of everyone on the road.”

Research and development in the use of robotics in warehouse and industrial settings is gaining momentum, fueling impressive growth in the market sector.

“Warehouse Robotics Market,” a June 2022 report from Future Market Insights (FMI), reveals that the global warehouse robotics market is projected to reach a value of more than $9.5 billion by 2032. In 2022, the market was on pace to exceed $5 billion, rising at a notable 13% compound annual growth rate throughout the forecast period. Robotics leverage digital technologies and computerization with artificial intelligence (A.I.) and machine learning to automate a host of operations.

“The market is likely to be driven by the growing trend of industrialization and the implementation of Industry 4.0,” according to the report.

Robotics services

Warehouse robotics are used in a variety of automated systems to bring greater efficiencies to processes in fulfillment, inventory and distribution. Different types of robotics, according to 6 River Systems, include automated guided vehicles for material and supply transport; automated storage and retrieval systems for inventory management; cobots, or collaborative robotics used to assist human personnel in performing tasks in the warehouse; articulated robotic arms that move products within warehouses; and goods-to-person systems that transport items to stationary pick stations.

Warehouse robots are applicable to many markets, including food and beverage, automotive, pharmaceuticals, electronics, construction, defense and oil and gas. Companies are investing huge dollars in research and development activities in the warehouse robotics market, especially in developed countries, for product innovation, more advanced automation and pursuit of quality production and manufacturing.

According to FMI, Amazon installed almost 15,000 robots in its U.S. warehouses to cut operations costs by one-fifth and meet increasing consumer demand. It used technology developed by Kiva Systems, a robotics company it would later purchase and rename Amazon Robotics. In October 2021, Amazon announced the opening of a new first-of-its-kind robotics manufacturing facility in Westborough, Mass. Amazon also unveiled plans to purchase iRobot in August 2022.

Market drivers and restraints

Important market drivers for the warehouse robotics market, according to FMI, include increasing demand of automation for time savings and cost reductions, increasing number of stock-keeping units, increasing demand and awareness toward quality and safety production, advancement in technology and increased use in various applications and industries such as food and beverage and electronics.

Some of the barriers cited in the report as potentially hampering the growth of the warehouse robotics market are the initial high adoption cost related to training and deployment, lack of awareness and difficulty in interacting with robots for some end-users.

The digital transformation and Industry 4.0 continue to revolutionize the way companies manufacture, improve and distribute products. Manufacturers are integrating new technologies, including internet of things, cloud computing, analytics, A.I. and machine learning into their production facilities and throughout their operations. That value proposition now includes robotics, for specific tasks and lessening the overall cost burden on the end-user.