Utilidata Develops Software-Defined Smart Grid Chip with NVIDIA - Utilidata

Utilidata, an industry leading grid-edge software company, announced today that it is developing a software-defined smart grid chip in collaboration with NVIDIA. The chip will be powered by NVIDIA's AI platform and embedded in smart meters to enhance grid resiliency, integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) -- including solar, storage, and electric vehicles (EVs) -- and accelerate the transition to a decarbonized grid. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be among the first to test the software-defined smart grid chip as a way to scale and commercialize the lab's Real-Time Optimal Power Flow (RT-OPF) technology, with support from the Solar Energy Technologies Office Technology Commercialization Fund. Originally developed with funding from DOE's Advanced Research Projects – Energy (ARPA-E) program, RT-OPF enables highly localized load control to seamlessly integrate an increasing number of DERs while ensuring stable and efficient grid operations. "To date, the scalability and commercial potential of technologies like RT-OPF have been limited by single-use hardware solutions," said Santosh Veda, Group Manager for Grid Automation and Controls at NREL. "By developing a smart grid chip that can be embedded in one of the most ubiquitous utility assets – the smart meter – this approach will potential enable wider adoption and commercialization of the technology and redefine the role of edge computing for DER integration and resiliency. Enhanced situational awareness and visibility from this approach will greatly benefit both the end customers and the utility."