The power industry has changed over the past few decades. A single distributed network has evolved to encompass decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization.
Today, power companies manage not only the traditional base-load systems – such as coal- or gas-fired power stations – but also renewables. The decarbonization drive is here to stay and is continuing to expand.
This leads to decentralization, as wind, solar and other renewable power generation plants are distributed over a large geographical area. The large single baseload power station with a few mines around it or a few gas plants surrounding and feeding into it to produce power is a thing of the past.
Power companies need to combine the output from this decentralized generation with that of their older-style plants. These assets produce power in different ways and at different speeds but need to be managed together; that's where digitalization comes in.
Improve work practices, boost efficiency and reduce risk
The digital transformation of operational procedures in the power industry gives the plant management team a framework to address multiple issues that can interfere with safe and efficient production.
When you convert manual procedures to a digital environment in the power and utilities industry, you improve work practices across the plant while addressing key areas in operations such as shift handover, event management and production control. Integrated workflows mean you can better manage and report on your regulatory requirements including safety and environmental. Integrated workflows make it easier to manage your processes.
The greatest benefit is that a digital environment reduces your operational risks. Reports indicate that many fatalities and near-misses in the power industry begin with human error. The more you digitalize your processes and create efficient and safe workflows, the less chance of human error. Digitized communications and transparency about safety risks help reduce the severity and frequency of safety incidents.
You can use a web-based digital operational environment to communicate critical safety events as well as the status of the plant to a wide group of personnel, even as the event unfolds. This allows a larger range of expertise to get involved right from the start and speeds up resolution of the situation.
Digitalization in action
For a few decades, the power industry has experienced digitalization, but it does so now by using several disconnected point solutions. During any shift, operations staff not only perform dozens of tasks – they record and report a range of issues, submit work requests and equipment tickets and log maintenance reports. Frequently, they do this on multiple digital systems. Staff often use spreadsheets and word processor documents to record and manage the execution of key industrial processes such as control of work, operator rounds, shift handover and the capture of operator shift logs.
Meanwhile, the level of complexity – due to the decentralization mentioned earlier – increases, as do the risks of getting it wrong.
These days, operational success depends on a centralized operational excellence environment and digital toolset that is:
Cloud-based and mobile friendly: Most people know how to use a smart device, and it makes commercial sense to provide key staff with a mobile or a tablet loaded with cloud-based operational excellence tools. These solutions should capture detailed information from a range of sources. They should speak to the software you already use for such things as asset management, environmental management, hazard and risk management and more. They should give you real-time reporting and incident alerts.
A single version of truth: Digital tools should break down silos across your organization. They should be accessible to all business units and contractors and give them the information they need to do their jobs. They should be transparent and generate real-time reports that meet regulatory requirements.
Continue the journey
Explore our Advancing Global Energy eBook to learn how connected data, integrated workflows and lifecycle intelligence help power organizations improve project delivery, optimize operations and manage risk.
And visit octave.com to learn how Octave helps power organizations improve performance across the asset lifecycle.