LAS VEGAS, November 28, 2023 — During the AWS re:Invent conference, Amazon Web Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., and Vector Technology Solutions Limited (VTS), a subsidiary of Vector Limited (NZX: VCT), jointly announced a significant milestone. Over 1 million smart energy meters in Australia and New Zealand are now operational on the Diverge platform. Diverge, a data and analytics energy platform, was developed through the strategic alliance formed between the two companies in 2020. This platform, powered by AWS’s data analytics and compute infrastructure, aims to facilitate the transition to cleaner energy by supporting the integration of renewable sources like solar and wind while adapting to the rapid electrification of transport and heating systems.
Diverge functions by processing high-frequency data from smart electricity and gas meters installed in homes and businesses. This data enables energy companies to gain insights into energy supply and demand across the grid, as well as the impact of distributed energy resources such as solar panels, batteries, or electric vehicle chargers. Traditionally, meter data has primarily been utilized for billing purposes. However, Diverge’s data insights empower grid operators to more effectively plan, build, and manage their networks. Additionally, it facilitates quicker approval of distributed energy resource connections, provides network capacity, ensures more reliable power quality when needed, and optimizes investment decisions for enhanced customer outcomes.
The Diverge platform, designed to support multiple and simultaneous use cases across customer service, grid operations, and planning applications, provides secure access to data in a format that meets various needs. For instance, it enhances outage detection and restoration capabilities by offering faster and more reliable data analysis and alerts. Leveraging Vector Metering, Diverge currently operates over 1 million smart meters.
Neil Williams, CEO at Vector Metering, emphasized the innovative services Diverge provides to customers, meeting the growing demand for renewable energy. Diverge enables the delivery of five-minute settlement data to Australian customers faster and more reliably. Williams also highlighted Diverge’s ability to support additional data services, such as power quality data, without impacting billing and settlement data. The expansion of this system in New Zealand is expected to bring valuable insights to customers in the region.
The strategic alliance between VTS and AWS has been extended until 2025, with a focus on developing deeper insights for customers, expanding use cases for Diverge, and pursuing global growth. Shailesh Manga, COO at VTS, expressed excitement about Diverge’s role in transforming the energy industry by enabling data-driven decisions. The platform’s ability to quickly and securely process and analyze vast amounts of energy data positions it as a key player in managing renewable energy deployment, dynamically overseeing complex networks, and meeting the increasing demand for renewable electricity to achieve carbon reduction goals.
Sarah Cooper, General Manager of Industry Products at AWS, emphasized the need for bold and innovative solutions as the transition to cleaner energy accelerates. She highlighted AWS’s commitment to developing a secure and scalable energy data platform that empowers grid operators and energy companies to enhance their operations. Cooper expressed enthusiasm about the tangible strides made in accelerating the world’s energy transition and the anticipation of helping VTS expand Diverge globally.
AWS’s commitment to sustainability in Aotearoa New Zealand was underscored, including a significant investment in opening an AWS Asia Pacific (Auckland) Region. This investment is projected to create 1,000 new jobs and contribute NZ$10.8 billion to the country’s GDP over the next 15 years. AWS’s partnership with Mercury NZ for renewable energy in the Auckland Region further emphasizes its dedication to lowering carbon emissions. The company has set a goal to power its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 and has already made significant strides, with 90% of the electricity consumed by Amazon attributed to renewable sources in 2022.
About Amazon Web Services (AWS): Since 2006, AWS has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud service, expanding to more than 240 fully featured services. AWS serves millions of customers worldwide, including startups, enterprises, and government agencies, with a commitment to powering infrastructure, promoting agility, and reducing costs. For more information about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.
About Vector Technology Solutions (VTS): Vector Technology Solutions Ltd (VTS), a subsidiary of Vector Ltd, is a New Zealand energy portfolio business with a focus on accelerating decarbonization. Leveraging decades of energy industry and critical infrastructure experience, VTS develops innovative technologies to create real-world optimization solutions for the wider energy infrastructure sector. For more information about VTS.