Blog | nearby computing

As renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and battery storage, continue to decentralise, the grid is undergoing a major transformation. Smart sensors equipped with Edge AI are becoming essential at the grid edge. These devices monitor key parameters—voltage, frequency, temperature, humidity—and process data locally to trigger immediate actions like load shedding or performance adjustments.

Unlike traditional systems that send raw data to central servers, Edge AI enables real-time decision-making and predictive maintenance right at the source. This reduces communication latency and boosts system responsiveness, especially critical in off-grid or rural installations powered by ambient energy sources such as vibration or sunlight.

Edge AI in Practice: Smart Decisions, On-Site

Edge AI’s true power lies in its ability to act autonomously:

R   Detect equipment stress or failure trends before breakdowns occur.

R   Instantly reroute energy from overproducing solar panels to local batteries.

R   Shut down or isolate faulty nodes without needing cloud commands.

R   Balance voltage and frequency fluctuations in microseconds.

These actions ensure system stability and reduce the need for constant human intervention, making decentralised networks smarter and more resilient.

Orchestrating Edge Infrastructure

To manage this growing web of intelligent devices, utilities need more than just sensors—they need orchestration. That’s where NearbyOne comes in. Developed by Nearby Computing, NearbyOne is an edge-to-cloud automation platform purpose-built for complex, distributed environments like digital substations and smart grids.

Key capabilities:

R  Edge-native automation: Automates the lifecycle of applications and services at edge nodes.

R  Hardware/software decoupling: Enables virtualisation and updates without physical rewiring.

R  Unified orchestration: Manages infrastructure, applications, and private networks (e.g. 5G) from a single control plane.

R  Scalability: From a few substations to thousands of devices—all manageable remotely.

NearbyOne ensures that every substation, gateway, or sensor node can be monitored, updated, and controlled with minimal effort, boosting both operational efficiency and security.

How It All Comes Together

Imagine a distributed renewable energy system spanning wind turbines, solar farms, batteries, and digital substations. Each node is equipped with Edge AI sensors that make decisions locally—balancing loads, flagging risks, adjusting power flows.

NearbyOne overlays this entire network, orchestrating deployments, updates, and policies in real time across all assets. Whether over 5G, Wi-Fi or fibre, the platform ensures everything works together, securely and efficiently.

Combined Benefits of Edge AI + NearbyOne