| Operational data analysis
How does the system account for uncertainties such as climate variability, weather, or regulatory changes? The system uses two approaches: 1. Configurable constraints: HYDROGRID Insight enables operators to set and adjust parameters like minimum discharge, ramping requirements, and reservoir levels for each simulation. This flexibility allows users to model a wide range of regulatory scenarios.
2. Climate data integration: Simulations incorporate real-world climate data, such as rainfall, snowmelt, and inflows, to reflect local weather variability. To account for seasonal patterns and other climate- related nuances, the system runs simulations over extended time windows to capture these dynamics effectively.
For example, a recent case involved a Norwegian operator assessing the feasibility of adding a turbine to an existing plant. By simulating the plant’s operation with the new turbine over three years (from early 2022 to late 2024), the system provided detailed outputs on energy generation, revenue, and operational performance. The analysis showed a potential revenue increase of over 10%, giving the operator a clear understanding of the investment’s return and break- even timeline. Hydropower investment simulations are rarely a one-time exercise. Operators often have portfolios of multiple plants and continuously assess new opportunities or changes. As a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, HYDROGRID Insight provides recurring simulation capabilities, enabling customers to: Regularly evaluate upgrades or new investments. Analyze different operational scenarios. Make informed decisions on future strategies.
Operators typically purchase packages that include a set number of simulations over a defined period, ensuring they can continuously adapt to changing conditions and opportunities.
Can you provide an overview of the HYDROGRID platform? What makes it unique in the market? HYDROGRID Insight is a comprehensive digital water management and production planning platform designed to optimize the operation of hydropower plants. It provides a fully integrated solution for hydropower operators, streamlining operations in one central location. The platform offers a holistic approach to water management, allowing operators to manage inflow forecasting, short-, medium-, and long-term dispatch planning, as well as automate the handling of environmental and regulatory requirements. Additionally, HYDROGRID Insight also covers
maintenance planning. The key to its uniqueness is the real-time, fully digitalized experience it offers, enabling decision-makers to easily access all the necessary data and optimize their operations, all in one place.
How does the platform contribute to improving operational decision-making for hydropower operators? HYDROGRID Insight supports hydropower operators by enhancing their operational efficiency through a multi-layered approach.
www.waterpowermagazine.com | February 2025 | 19
1. Day-to-day operations: The platform helps improve technical efficiency by reducing water spill and optimizing turbine use. This leads to more electricity production without needing any changes to the physical plant, all driven by advanced analytics and data. Operators can access optimized production plans or manually override them, but the system provides the necessary insights and data for informed decisions.
2. Revenue optimization: In liberalized markets, electricity prices fluctuate, and HYDROGRID Insight integrates with stock exchanges and price forecasting to ensure plants produce electricity at the most profitable times. Operators can optimize production based on flexibility, increasing revenue by up to 15%, with some customers experiencing as much as 50% higher revenues compared to previous methods.
3. Maintenance planning: Maintenance is crucial to extend the lifespan of hydropower plants, but it can reduce plant capacity temporarily. HYDROGRID Insight offers a maintenance planning feature, helping operators choose the optimal time for maintenance while minimizing the financial impact. The system generates recommendations, including estimated revenue changes for
Above: Investment decision simulation use case: adding an extra turbine
Below: HYDROGRID Cockpit: plant topology, generation plan, level development, and inflow forecast
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