Does quality engineering in software testing help drive electricity to your home? The answer is simple. It doesn’t. At least, not yet.

Even then, the United States is the second-largest producer of electricity worldwide. The good old-fashioned way. Over the span of a year, it generates 4.2 petawatt hours for consumption. Impressive as this statistic is, modernizing the aging electric grid is necessary. With digital transformation being the focus.

To carry this out, the government has allocated significant funding since 2007. In fact, almost 80% of Americans should have installed smart meters for their homes by the end of 2024. So, this transition to a smart grid is well underway in the United States.

Yet there are other benefits that such an upgrade can offer. Where quality engineering in testing will play an important role too.

How Electricity Distribution Works Currently

The idea of a smart grid is exciting. Still, learning how electricity generation, transmission and distribution works is first necessary. With the minimal involvement of software. Or for that matter, quality engineering and testing.

Electricity Generation

A power plant generates electricity from sources such as coal, natural gas and oil. Nuclear power, solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric are also used. The latter grows in importance at a time when our dependence on fossil fuels diminishes. Utility companies own and run power plants while their customers live far away. Which makes transmission important.

Electricity Transmission

The power plant transmits the generated electricity long distance across the electric grid. A series of electric substations play a significant role here. These substations increase voltage to ensure transmission over long distances. Transformers are devices that increase or decrease voltage.

Electricity Distribution

Once the electricity supplier receives power, it reduces the voltage. Then, it distributes electricity among customers connected to the electric grid. Customers who use lots of electricity do not need voltage reduction. As for billing, all users have meters that record the number of units consumed.

Reimagining the Distribution of Electricity: The Smart Grid

Now, it’s safe to assume that power generation will transition to non-fossil fuel sources by 2050. We have the Net Zero Carbon emissions strategy to thank.

What about the transmission and distribution of power? Yes, that’s about to change as well. The digital transformation of the electric grid will route power with efficiency. This will make electricity reasonable in cost for every consumer.

Yet there are other reasons that can push power plants to make such a transition. Some of these include:

  • increasing number of cyberattacks
  • preference for off-the-grid renewable sources of power
  • emission regulations
  • deregulation

Also, there are benefits that come with such a transformation too. Some of these include:

  • making informed decisions on routing
  • improving safety
  • cutting costs
  • saving time

That said, if a digital transformation must happen, there are four key areas to focus on:

Operations

Digitizing all record keeping in a centralized repository for real-time access

Maintenance

Minimizes downtime once the analysis of all maintenance activity records is accessible

Energy efficiency

Engineers can check for efficiency once they access said records. Then they can take steps in real-time to route power based on their analysis.

Health, Safety & Environment

In digitizing all the information available, access to past accidents is possible. This can help management avoid and prepare for such scenarios in the future.

How Quality Engineering in Testing Can Drive Digital Transformation

Now, to realize the implementation of the smart grid, utility companies must invest in:

  • software
  • control systems
  • architecture

This involves making supportive government policies too. This is to deliver electricity in a reliable, efficient and customized manner.

Specialized hardware is also the need of the hour. Devices that can record and send real-time information across the grid. For this, IoT sensors and smart meters coupled with wired and wireless networks can get it done. But it’s not only about hardware and networking infrastructure. Digital transformation also involves the use of software. Its functionality can glean valuable insights. Also, to complete the communication feedback loop between power plants, substations and customers. Where storing and analyzing power usage data takes place. For these reasons, it is important to ensure that they work as intended. For this, testing with thoroughness throughout the software development lifecycle makes sense. In other words, implementing quality engineering in testing is the way to go.

Now, delivering electricity currently uses minimal software to get the job done. This will not be so when an implementation of the smart grid is complete. An entire ecosystem of applications will be necessary. With several apps required, continuous testing and deployment will become the norm. Fixing bugs and even adding new features at speed will be necessary. This is where quality engineering in testing comes in.

So, let’s look at 5 benefits that quality engineering in software testing can help with:

1. Secure your apps by testing early for vulnerabilities with DevSecOps

Security vulnerabilities can leave power plants open to cyberattacks. Hence, resolving security issues throughout all SDLC stages will gain in importance. Instead of testing for security much later on.

2. Speed up your development lifecycle with DevOps automation

Driving automation throughout the SDLC saves time and creates high quality software. Releasing your applications with speed is important to most companies. Which, in this case, is necessary if you want to provide electricity 24/7 to customers. This is why DevOps matters.

3. Reduce testing efforts with AI-driven automated solutions

If you plan and execute your testing using AI and automation, you can reduce manual effort. With tried-and-tested solutions on offer, this will save both money and time.

4. Improve application performance with Performance Engineering

Much like DevSecOps, testing apps as early as possible in production conditions matter. How will you know whether the application is scalable, reliable, quick and stable? This is particularly important in the context of smart grid applications.

5. Reduce the cost of finding bugs by adopting a shift-left strategy

Testing is usually left for the end of the SDLC. Still, taking a shift-left approach to testing can reduce the cost of finding bugs. Along with saving time spent to fix these. Point being, the sooner you find critical bugs, the higher the software quality. This will only enhance customer satisfaction.

Need a Quality Engineering for Software Testing Partner? Here’s How Qualitest Can Help You

Picking the right quality engineering for software testing partner can move mountains. Closing the communication feedback loop between all plants, stations and customers is likely. Being able to route the right amount of power to customers is possible too. The future is yours!

Are you looking for a well-established quality engineering and testing company? Qualitest can help. Take advantage of our tried-and-tested quality engineering for software testing approach. Produce high performance software while also reducing time-to-market by 6x. Speak to an expert now.