Breadcrumb Home Automation GridBeats™ GridBeats™ Zonal Autonomous Control (ZAC) GridBeats™ Zonal Autonomous Control (ZAC) Autonomous near-real time grid control for a more resilient, flexible network From cyber threats to weather-related outages to rising renewables, grid operators are up against constant disruption. The electrical grid is becoming more dynamic and complex. GridBeats™ ZAC is designed to help. GRID CHALLENGES ARE ON THE RISE Increasing DER size and complexity Creates hosting capacity constraints, bidirectional power flows, and reduced system inertia that complicates voltage, frequency, and protection coordination. Large load growth and interconnection stress Rising demand from data centers, EVs, electrification, and large industrial loads strains grid capacity and interconnections. Aging infrastructure and asset wear Legacy assets, such as On-Load Tap Changers (OLTCs), face accelerated wear due to frequent voltage regulation cycles and reverse power flows. Increasing system complexity and scale Expanding DERs, EVs, and data centers drive highly dynamic networks that are harder to model, monitor, and control in real time. Resilience and cybersecurity risks Extreme weather and increasing cyber threats expose vulnerabilities in centralized control architectures and legacy grid operations. ACHIEVE ZONAL CONTROL WITH GridBeats™ ZAC GridBeats™ ZAC allows grid operators to quickly adapt to events by splitting their grid into autonomous zones and managing them in near-real time. Zones can be split into large geographical areas, microgrids, or even smaller areas with generation and load. This zonal segmentation approach scales across power generation, transmission and distribution networks, as well as complex industrial systems such as data centers and oil & gas facilities.As a result, our customers can gain the control they need to reduce disruption and outage recovery times. GridBeats™ ZAC is part of GridBeats™, a portfolio of software-defined automation solutions for grid digitalization that’s designed to improve adaptability, visibility, and control over the grid. BRING ROUND-THE-CLOCK RESILIENCE TO YOUR GRID Split Your Grid into Zones By splitting the grid into zones of any size, GridBeats™ ZAC lets you isolate sections of the grid to prevent cascading outages. Neighboring zones can coordinate and exchange signals locally, enabling faster response while complementing centralized control. Integrate with All Your Assets GridBeats™ ZAC is vendor agnostic and can integrate with any central control room software as well as downstream IEDs. Respond faster to a Dynamic Grid GridBeats™ ZAC deploys near real-time monitoring and control directly at the edge, reducing latency and enabling faster, more effective response to changing grid conditions. As distributed generation and fast-changing loads increase, it allows operators to respond in ways that traditional centralized systems cannot. Reduce critical asset wear and stress GridBeats™ ZAC reduces mechanical stress and switching frequency on critical grid assets like OLTCs, capacitor banks, and breakers by using fast, localized DER control to manage voltage and power flows instead of relying on slow, wear-intensive equipment. Protect Critical Services without Costly Overbuild GridBeats™ ZAC allows operators to prioritize and safeguard critical infrastructure within each zone, reducing outage impacts without requiring costly infrastructure upgrades. Latest Hardware and Software GridBeats™ ZAC combines sophisticated hardware including edge devices, low-cost sensors, and communication technologies (e.g. LTE, 5G, broadband...), with leading software (such as AI algorithms and our Advanced Automation Applications). GridBeats™ ZAC STRUCTURAL VIEW PUTTING GridBeats™ ZAC TO WORK: USE CASES Improved Stability Management Fast load shedding and locational balancing Near real-time zonal monitoring for voltage and frequency supportHigh resolution measurements with low latency control signals Greater Flexibility Closed-loop control of DER dispatch and load responseContinuous monitoring of boundaries and assets to quickly rebalance zones Increased Resilience Zonal congestion and stability managementFault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) Wildfire mitigation (such as High-Speed Conductor Protection (HFCP) and High Impedance Fault Detection (HIF) Enhanced Predictive Capabilities Integration of distributed AI Forecasting at the edgeZonal AI clustering to enhance situational awareness High granularity of asset monitoring within each zone LEARN MORE Take a look at our resources to discover more about the benefits of GridBeats ZAC. Solution Video GridBeats™ ZAC: Delivering Real Customer Value Transforming How A Hydroelectric Plant Harnesses Renewables Specializing in hydroelectric projects, a North American energy producer needed to increase water conservation, ramp up production, and meet demand spikes with a smarter use of renewables. They achieved that and more with GE Vernova’s Microgrid solution. Simplifying How An Ambitious Utility Deploys Wind Power A utility in Vietnam was looking to develop and deploy a new 100MW capacity wind power plant. Harnessing GE Vernova solutions, it was able to seamlessly integrate this power plant into the grid, maintain grid stability, comply with relevant regulations, and reduce operational risk. Protecting The Grid During Extreme Weather Exposure Extreme weather events can hit the grid hard, and disadvantaged communities often bear the brunt. As part of a U.S. DOE project to address this issue, GE Vernova deployed a solution that autonomously identifies and restores the affected grid by making optimal use of local DERs. 2 / 3 WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU Contact Us GridBeats™ is a portfolio of software-defined automation solutions for grid digitalization, developed by GE Vernova with an unmatched heritage of transforming physical infrastructure with digital technology.It gives you the resilience, visibility, and flexibility to solve your challenges today — and meet the demands of tomorrow.Fill in the form to find out how we can help you on your digitalization journey.
