AES partners on grid virtualization tech in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — The AES Corp. (NYSE: AES), parent of Indianapolis-based AES Indiana, is partnering with California-based X, the moonshot factory on an effort to bring more clean energy resources to the grid. AES says the partnership involves developing tools to simulate and virtualize its distribution grids in Indiana and Ohio.

X, the moonshot factory, was formerly known as Google X. AES says the grid virtualization technologies will allow the utility to test new ideas, optimize the grid for renewables, improve reliability and build new efficiencies into the system.

“One of the biggest obstacles to shifting to a renewable and reliable electric system is having a complete real-time picture of what is happening on the electric grid,” said Audrey Zibelman, vice president and general manager for X’s electric grid team. “We are developing new computational and virtualization tools designed to give everyone who manages and operates the grid the ability to plan, build and manage a clean and resilient grid.”

AES says the project builds on its 10-year strategic alliance with Google to accelerate innovation in energy distribution and management.