This weblog sequence discusses the complicated duties power utility firms face as they shift to holistic grid asset administration to handle via the power transition. Earlier posts on this sequence addressed the challenges of the power transition with holistic grid asset administration, the built-in asset administration platform and information alternate, and merging conventional top-down and bottom-up planning processes.
Asset administration and technological innovation
Developments in know-how underpin the necessity for holistic grid asset administration, making the belongings within the grid smarter and equipping the workforce with sensible instruments.
Robots and drones carry out inspections by utilizing AI-based visible recognition strategies. Asset efficiency administration (APM) processes, akin to risk-based and predictive upkeep and asset funding planning (AIP), allow well being monitoring applied sciences.
Technicians hook up with the web by wearable units akin to tablets, watches or VR glasses, offering clients with quick entry to related data or professional help from anyplace on this planet. Technicians can resolve technical points sooner, enhancing asset utilization and decreasing asset downtime.
Cellular-connected technicians expertise improved security via measures akin to entry management, fuel detection, warning messages or fall recognition, which reduces threat publicity and enhances operational threat administration (ORM) throughout work execution. Cybersecurity reduces threat publicity for cyberattacks on digitally linked belongings.
Sensoring and monitoring additionally contribute to the direct measurement of sustainability environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics akin to power effectivity and greenhouse fuel emission or wastewater flows. This method gives precise actual information factors for ESG reporting as an alternative of model-based assumptions, which helps cut back carbon footprint and obtain sustainability objectives.
The asset administration maturity journey
Utility firms can view the evolution of asset administration as a journey to a stage of asset administration excellence. The next determine reveals the levels from a reactive to a proactive asset administration tradition, together with the assorted strategies and approaches that firms may apply:
Within the holistic asset administration view, a scalable platform gives functionalities to construct capabilities alongside the way in which. Every step within the journey calls for adopting new processes and methods of working, which devoted greatest apply instruments and optimization fashions help.
The enterprise asset administration (EAM) system essentially turns into a preventive upkeep program within the early levels of the maturity journey, from “Innocence” via to “Understanding”. This transition drives down the price of unplanned repairs.
To proceed to the subsequent stage of “Competence”, APM capabilities take the lead. The main focus of the asset administration group shifts towards uptime and enterprise worth by stopping failures. This additionally prevents costly machine downtime, manufacturing deferment and potential security or environmental dangers. Machine connectivity via Web of Issues (IoT) information alternate permits condition-based upkeep and well being monitoring. Danger-based asset methods align upkeep efforts to stability prices and dangers.
Predictive upkeep applies machine studying fashions to foretell imminent failures early within the potential failure curve, with enough warning time to permit for deliberate intervention. The ultimate step at this stage is the optimization of the upkeep and alternative program primarily based on asset criticality and accessible sources.
APM and AIP mix within the “Excellence” stage, and predictive generative AI creates clever processes. At this stage, the asset administration course of turns into self-learning and prescriptive in making one of the best determination for total enterprise worth.
New know-how catalyzes the asset maturity journey, digital options join the asset administration methods, and sensible linked instruments enhance high quality of labor and productiveness. The introduction of (generative) AI fashions within the asset administration area has introduced a full toolbox of latest optimization instruments. Gen AI use circumstances have been developed in every step of the journey, to help firms develop extra capabilities to turn into extra environment friendly, protected, dependable and sustainable. Because the maturity of the belongings and asset managers grows, present and future grid belongings generate extra worth.
Holistic asset administration aligns with enterprise objectives, integrates operational domains of beforehand siloed disciplines, deploys digital modern know-how and permits excellence in asset administration maturity. This method permits utility firms to maximise their worth and thrive as they handle via the power transition.
Learn extra in regards to the enterprise worth of APM
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