Guam to deploy AI-driven technology to facilitate quick power restoration during storms
- Admin
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Guam Power Authority today announced plans to install AI-driven weather forecasting tools, which will enable it to better prepare for and respond to any storm-related power outages.
GPA’s advanced control and forecasting technology, funded through two federal grants totaling $1.62 million from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, is a key component of the utility agency’s Advanced Resilience Management for Outage Recovery, or ARMOR, project.
“The ARMOR Project represents the next step in modernizing Guam’s
power system,” said John M. Benavente, GPA general manager.
Officials said the project includes the installation of modular microgrid controllers at Inalåhan Middle School and Upi Elementary School, allowing GPA to isolate and restore power to critical facilities during outages.
“These new technologies will allow GPA to monitor and manage power in real time, anticipate weather impacts on generation and restore service faster after major events—all while making our grid more secure and affordable,” Benavente said.
The technology also features a Total Sky Imager,
a weather-monitoring system that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to forecast cloud cover and provide GPA with short-term generation predictions.
This information feeds into GPA’s grid controllers so operators can fine-tune generation dispatch in real time and maintain stable, efficient system performance.
“These investments are about control, coordination, and confidence in our power system,” Benavente said.
“Better forecasting lets us plan ahead and make smarter decisions about when and how we generate power—reducing the risk of unplanned outages. That helps us use resources more efficiently and keep costs manageable for our customers,” concluded Benavente.
The funding was awarded through the Energizing Insular Communities program, which supports infrastructure and energy initiatives across U.S. territories.
“These new awards build on GPA’s ongoing ARMOR Project initiatives, including previous grants from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop
and deploy a modular microgrid controller and event detector system,” GPA said.
“Together, these projects form a comprehensive strategy to enhance grid
control, situational awareness and operational security across Guam’s power system,” it added.
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