GE Renewable Energy has signed an agreement with Finnish power company Fortum Sverige for a large scale digital pilot based on its Predix Solutions.
As per the agreement, GE will install its APM Edge Analytics, also known as iCMS on one unit of the 127MW Höljes hydropower station in Sweden. To enable Fortum to look at data from sensors in real time, the intelligent condition monitoring system will be commissioned alongside Human to Machine interface.
GE said that its Edge Analytics can record up to 2 terabytes of data every month, while ensuring 1% of additional availability of the unit.
For Sweden-based Höljes, Trängslet and Krangede stations as well as the Finland-based Imatra hydropower stations, GE will install Asset Performance Management modules called ‘Machine & Equipment health’ and ‘Remote Diagnostics Services’ for a period of six months. And these modules will be installed on one unit at each power plant.
During the test phase, operators can collect key performance indicators (KPI) data displayed on dashboards for each of the unit installed with the software.
GE Renewable Energy Chief Digital Officer Sanjeev Addala said: “It is a great step forward to partner with Fortum. Our teams have been working together for the past several months to identify new ways to enhance the availability and business outcomes of these plants.
“With APM Edge Analytics we capture key asset & operational data to gain improved visibility, and actionable insights, laying the foundation for strong execution.”
Fortum chief digital officer Per Edoff said: “Digitalization enables us to operate and maintain our production units more efficiently. Within the Nordic energy system, hydro power is essential and with increasing shares of volatile wind power production its importance will increase even more.
“It’s then crucial to minimize downtime connected to maintenance and we expect that this pilot will give us a tool necessary to accomplish that.”
Fortum is a clean-energy company that offers its customers with electricity, heating and cooling as well as smart solutions to enhance resource efficiency. It employs about 8,000 professionals in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, Poland and India.