Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Better World

Summary

At ARC India’s virtual Forum, “Driving Digital Transformation in Industry and Cities,” on September 8-9, Uniper participated as a Platinum Sponsor.  Uniper, a global energy company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, generates, trades, and markets energy on a large scale.  The company strives to ensure the security of energy supply and to develop digital technologies that could be important for decarbonizing the energy business and other industries. 

Digital technologies have changed both the business landscape and lexicon of the power sector.  No longer is it merely about “competition” and “profitability;” it is about new business models that stress sustainability.  Uniper’s power generation business in Europe is focused increasingly on becoming carbon neutral by 2035. 

The two impactful presentations made by Uniper executives highlighted different aspects of the company’s digital transformation journey. Peter Saddington, Business Development Lead – Enerlytics, presented on the lessons learned from implementing digital solutions in power stations focusing on the human angle.  Pete Davies, Senior Vice President, Digital Engineering Solutions, presented on digital solutions for safe operations.  After giving brief overviews of the company, both speakers substantiated the efficacy of the deployed digital solutions via case studies.

Contextual Backdrop

Uniper, Europe’s fourth largest energy generating company, operates in 40 countries around the world, with an installed capacity of about 34 gigawatts. The company’s 100-year history and background as an asset owner/operator gives it a deep understanding of the energy industry and the needs of its clients.  Without being tied to any particular  equipment or component suppliers, the company is free to choose and customize the best possible solutions for its clients.  Uniper works with its customers, understands their concerns and market dynamics, and works to add value to the entire process. The company combines digital solutions with engineering expertise.  Beginning with thermodynamic modelling 30 years ago, the company’s expanded  expertise today is combined on a single platform – Enerlytics.  According to the speakers, the potential savings that can be realized once the tool is operational more than compensate for the costs of setting up and running the Enerlytics Industrial IoT-based Big Data analytics platform.  

Enerlytics Platform

The Enerlytics Industrial IoT platform brings together data from multiple control and other systems, monitors the entire system, and according to the company provides centralized control and operational transparency to improve efficiency and support better decisions.  The five core clusters to the Enerlytics platform cover a range of functionalities and tools.  Each cluster contributes to a central dashboard dedicated to all aspects of plant operation, asset management, and market enterprise.

Human Element of Digital Implementation

Mr. Saddington said that everything is and has always been data driven; and in a data-driven environment the company’s ability to process data quickly and accurately supports better informed decisions.  Earlier, there were multiple systems and multiple ways to analyze and use data, but these tended to be siloed.  Fundamentally, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and IoT are doing what engineers have always aimed for - delivering improved ways to do things cost effectively.  These are all tools to help people work more efficiently and make quicker and better decisions. “But going digital is not just about technology and the tools, it is about understanding the human element.” People are often skeptical about making  investments and need to be convinced that the vendor will deliver on his promise. “Every client is different and on a different trajectory,” he said.  Further, he spoke about deploying a human-centric approach in four key areas:

• Infrastructure - overcoming IT and security concerns; to deploy technology, experts are required
• Globalization - diverse team and delivery partners to scale a software offering; regional offices aware of cultural/language nuances enable a more personalized service
• Implementation - teams get involved in more pressing “everyday” situations; power station operations come first; identifying KPIs and remaining agile supports successful implementation

• Communication - people are the most difficult  to change, so identify their drivers and support them; share good practices and experiences

Digital Solutions for Safe Operations

Pete Davies, Senior Vice President, Digital Engineering Solutions, Uniper spoke about digital solutions for safe operations.  He cited multiple case studies and quantified the accrued benefits.  

Case Studies

Energy Mix and Transition

In the UK, Big Data, analytics, and advanced visualization were used to balance a mix of renewable (mostly wind and solar) generation, combined cycle gas turbine generation, and standby coal generation to optimize energy market opportunities within the EU interconnect on a particular day in 2018 with low demand and mild weather (no wind).  This helped demonstrate that even with the high penetration of renewables in Europe and elsewhere, there is still a lot of potential for traditional assets to operate more flexibly, take advantage of market opportunities, and contribute to the worldwide energy transition.

Tracing the history of a UK-based coal unit from the miner’s strike in the 80s to the penetration of renewables in the 2000s he showed how renewables-driven fossil flexibility is achievable.  Digital is integral to the commercial delivery of safe, flexible operations.  Further, he spoke about the benefits and paybacks of deploying the Enerlytics platform.

Virtual Engineering and Safety Challenges

Mr. Davies said that in Europe there is a decline in the engineering knowledge base; growing cost consciousness; and travel has become risky (due to accidents and the current pandemic).  Hence, virtual engineering is required.  The solution is “wearable tech”- PPE equipment/HoloLens - for fast data capture, hands-free operations, and remote monitoring and assistance.  This solution was used for a gas turbine inspection in the Middle East.  Benefits achieved include access to expertise that is not available locally and personnel didn’t have to travel overseas, thereby reducing the risk profile.

Empowering Operators with Actionable Information

Next, Mr. Davies spoke about how Uniper’s Thermodynamic Modeling Suite powered by PROATES can be used to assess overall plant performance and individual components to maximize efficiency and generation.  Specific cases mentioned include:

• Determining how the addition or reduction of a cooling tower would increase performance and operational efficiency

• Early identification of a blocked filter in a gas turbine that was having a direct impact on performance.  The differential pressure drop was identified and maintenance prioritized

Uniper’s Advanced Condition Monitoring (ACM) tool was designed to provide total plant coverage and monitor the whole plant condition by employing a multi-dimensional model algorithm.  Examples provided include:

• The ACM tool showed that a transformer displaying a high winding temperature was due to a design fault in the safety cordon.  The site avoided a potential trip and associated loss of production.
• An issue was identified on the LP (low pressure) rotor during rundown (potential rotor crack).  Site was advised to continue operations with increased monitoring.  This helped avoid a major failure.

• The ACM tool enabled safe postponement of outage in a steam turbine through alerts during the pandemic.

Conclusion

The pace of digitalization in the power sector is increasing.  Consumers demand reliable, efficient, safe, and ideally green power sources and expect information from their energy providers to enable them to make the right decisions.  Renewable sources of energy are  garnering global attention for a sustainable planet.  In accordance with the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals, Uniper has charted its sustainability initiatives that include affordable and clean energy; measures to protect climate change, etc.  The case studies and presentations by Uniper at ARC India’s virtual Forum made it clear that while technological expertise is its stronghold, the company realizes that the human element plays a significant role in the digital transformation journey.  

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Keywords: Uniper, Enerlytics Platform, Energy Solutions, ARC India Virtual Forum, Digital Solutions, Human Element, Sustainable, Renewables, ARC Advisory Group.