AI, Grid-Edge, DER, and V2G: Distributech Highlights, Part 1

More than 20,000 power industry professionals viewed the latest innovations in power transmission and distribution, smart grid technologies, energy efficiency, and more at Distributech 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

EEPower met with industry leaders and experienced more than 700 exhibits at the show. So many companies introduced new products and services that we have split our coverage into two parts. Here are just some of the highlights. 

Barbara Vergetis Lundin, EEPower’s editor-in-chief, met with Andres Marais of H2scan at Distributech 2025 in Dallas.

H2scan

Hydrogen is often the first gas produced during electrical transformer abnormalities, particularly as they age. Hydrogen detection can be used as a key indicator for monitoring transformer health. H2scan’s HY-VAULT system provides utilities with a cost-effective solution for continuous hydrogen emissions monitoring.

Transformer monitoring. Image used courtesy of H2scan 

The HY-VAULT uses H2scan's newly introduced GRIDSCAN 5015 or 5000 family of hydrogen sensors with a bespoke AVO-1 interface to create the industry's only hydrogen monitoring solution specifically designed for vault transformers. The interface is powered directly from the power network, which allows continuous monitoring in previously difficult-to-access locations. By reducing or eliminating manual oil sampling, the hydrogen detection system enables maintenance crews to prioritize transformers at risk of failure and reduces personnel exposure to potentially hazardous environments. 

EnergyHub and Ameren Illinois

EnergyHub and Ameren Illinois launched a residential and commercial electric vehicle managed charging pilot. A managed charging pilot optimizes EV charging to benefit both the grid and the customers. These pilots typically involve strategies to shift or adjust the timing and rate of EV charging to align with periods of low energy demand or high renewable energy production. This approach helps utilities manage peak demand, reduce grid strain, and lower energy costs for customers. Ameren Illinois’ service territory includes 1.2 million electric customers across central and southern Illinois.

Managed charging in peak and non-peak hours. Image used courtesy of EnergyHub

EnergyHub's managed charging solution operates by integrating directly with electric vehicle supply equipment providers and electric vehicle original equipment manufacturers, enhancing customer participation. The solution includes demand response and dynamic load shaping capabilities, allowing EnergyHub's utility clients to manage peak demand and mitigate distribution grid impacts. It sets the stage for future grid benefits through vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid developments.

Itron, Inc.

Itron, Inc., announced it is partnering with Nvidia to use artificial intelligence computing in the power grid to improve resilience and energy efficiency and to promote decarbonization. The AI-powered edge computing to the grid will enhance utility operations with real-time insights for an improved grid.

Itron’s existing Grid Edge Intelligence Platform combines real-time meter data management, forecasting, advanced metering infrastructure analytics, grid planning, grid operations, and demand management to ensure the supply of reliable energy to customers. The collaboration with Nvidia for AI will help to predict energy demand more accurately and manage energy distribution more efficiently, reducing energy losses.

Pulsiv

Pulsiv Limited has won the Power Source Manufacturers Association’s first Global Energy Efficiency Award.

Thermal image of Pulsiv’s 65W USB-C evaluation board. Image used courtesy of Pulsiv

Pulsiv won for its ground-breaking 65W USB-C design, which delivers ultra-low operating temperatures and a peak efficiency of 96 percent. The USB-C design showcases Pulsiv OSMIUM technology, a method of AC to DC front-end conversion that applies intelligence to an active valley fill approach, delivering a combination of benefits in power electronics.

Micatu

Micatu Inc. introduced an advanced grid-edge processing device called certusEDGE. The solution integrates real-time data with advanced analytics and allows electric utilities to enhance resilience, improve efficiency, and protect critical infrastructure while actively predicting grid faults in real time.

certusEDGE. Image used courtesy of Micatu

To further develop certusEDGE, Micatu will collaborate with Oracle Utilities to integrate Oracle’s grid-edge software, network management, and AI capabilities.

Eaton

Eaton unveiled an innovation to strengthen the prevention of wildfires caused by utility distribution systems. The Eaton HiZ Protect solution aids in accurately and quickly detecting and mitigating high-impedance (HiZ) powerline faults, the type that could potentially ignite wildfires.

Form 7 Recloser. Image used courtesy of Eaton

HiZ powerline faults, often caused by fallen trees or damaged insulators, are difficult to detect. Eaton’s HiZ Protect technology automatically and accurately identifies and isolates this type of powerline fault. The AI technology incorporates integrated sensors, machine learning, and edge-based implementation. The company says that under lab-simulated conditions, using real-world grid data from multiple utilities, the technology could detect and de-energize HiZ faults with greater than 90 percent accuracy.

OpenADR Alliance

The OpenADR Alliance announced its OpenADR 3.0 product designed to support utilities, operators, aggregators, and customers as the range of distributed energy resources, such as renewable energy and electric vehicle charging, continues to grow. It provides a highly secure, fast, and reliable two-way information exchange for utility applications.

Clean Power Research and envelio

Boston-based smart grid software company envelio has joined in a technical partnership with Clean Power Research to better automate interconnection workflows, reduce project approval times, and enhance grid transparency.

Smart grid planning. Image used courtesy of envelio

The project will integrate envelio’s Intelligent Grid Platform with Clean Power Research’s workflow management solution called PowerClerk. The combination will enable utilities to scale distributed energy resources and improve grid planning and operations by accelerating interconnection requests, automating technical evaluations, and enhancing grid capacity visibility.

S&C Electric Company

Chicago-based S&C Electric Company announced a package integrating S&C’s EdgeRestore system and Ubicquia's UbiGrid DTM+ to add communications and leverage analytics to utility users of S&C’s EdgeRestore. Ubicquia provides AI-driven solutions to enhance operational efficiencies for utilities and municipalities. The combined package allows utilities to monitor restoration operations and the status of devices to provide situational awareness and predictive analytics.

TripSaver II recloser. Image used courtesy of S&C

S&C also announced an integrated solution featuring Gridscope from grid-monitoring firm Gridware and S&C’s TripSaver II Cutout-Mounted Recloser. This combination product offers utilities low cost, flexibility, and scalable grid visibility to minimize disruptions caused by faults and extreme weather conditions.

TE Connectivity and CNIguard

TE Connectivity has partnered with CNIguard to offer their customers end-to-end grid monitoring solutions. The two companies can enhance the reliability of overhead and underground grid installations with real-time data, visualization, and analytics.

TE’s smart connectivity solutions are combined with CNIguard’s IoT platform to allow utility customers end-to-end access to digital smart grid solutions. The monitoring system provides real-time situational awareness, predictive maintenance, and rapid response when faults or other events occur.

Stay tuned for Part 2.