The use of AI in hydroelectric power plants creates new challenges – pv magazine International

As the world’s largest source of renewable energy, hydropower plays an important role in stabilizing the grid. While solar energy relies on the sun shining and wind turbines rely on the wind, hydroelectric turbines can (mostly) be turned on or off at will. Hydropower is used extensively to store electrical energy, so-called pumped storage, and can thus compensate for fluctuations in wind and solar energy in the grid.

Its value in the race to net zero is proven, but aging infrastructure, unpredictable weather conditions and ever-changing regulatory requirements are just some of the challenges it faces. Digitalization and new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are helping to solve some of these problems by automating functions, collecting and analyzing valuable data, and enabling optimal planning of power generation and maintenance.

The rise of AI in hydropower

The use of AI in the energy sector is undoubtedly on the rise. One study estimates this could be worth up to $13 billion. When it comes to hydropower, AI shows promise in two of the most important tasks: water management and maintenance. Until now, the management of water resources to meet energy needs has been based primarily on combining historical weather patterns, such as rainfall and snowmelt, with forecasting future weather events. Maintenance generally occurs in cycles, meaning unexpected failures or inefficient equipment pose a risk to regular power generation.

Digitalization is changing this by transforming hydropower plants from reactive to proactive assets, able to anticipate problems before they occur and optimize operations to improve efficiency and generate more electricity from available water. A smart hydroelectric power plant uses innovations such as AI, virtual reality, the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data to improve the function and safety of the power plant’s energy. It uses intelligent electronic devices and intelligent equipment for automation, analysis, decision making, information sharing and integration with other intelligent applications.

Smart technologies can also address ever-changing regulatory requirements and help minimize their impact on the environment. For example, when it comes to water availability, AI can use large amounts of data about historical weather patterns and reservoir levels to make more accurate predictions about future water flow, thereby preventing unnecessary water spills. The information can be used to ensure that the water in the hydroelectric power plant is distributed as energy-efficiently as possible.

Advanced sensor technology on water turbines enables real-time monitoring of their status. This data can then be fed into AI algorithms to predict disruptions in advance, reducing the risk of outages. The data can also be combined with information about market prices for electricity or feed-in tariffs to optimize the timing of maintenance and reduce possible losses.

Another advantage of AI is that it can be used to create predictive flow models capable of estimating the amount of energy a hydroelectric power plant can produce, allowing for more efficient planning of turbines and production planning in the long term. Additionally, AI in hydroelectric power plants can help mitigate the potentially damaging effects of extreme weather events by improving the control of water flows and preventing overflows.

Wolfgang Hofbauer, an expert in the field and chair of an IEC working group developing standards for water turbines, says AI can help in several ways, such as identifying potential threats to power supplies. “With the ability to collect and analyze data, AI systems can help detect possible deviations in numbers, such as temperature changes, enabling targeted, predictive maintenance rather than just reacting when something fails. In addition, it can calculate power output in real time and run simulations to determine the best water levels and parameters for the most effective use of the turbines.”

However, the use of AI in the automation of hydroelectric power plants is not yet widespread because the market is acting cautiously because of fears that something could go wrong and there will be disruptions in the network. Cybersecurity is also a problem. “Hydroelectric power plants can be seen as vulnerable targets in a country’s infrastructure and therefore attractive to hackers,” he adds. “Therefore, it is important to strengthen the security of hardware and systems through firewalls or other advanced cybersecurity measures.”

The rise in cyber attacks

The integration of IoT devices and sensors increases the cyber vulnerability of hydroelectric power plants simply because there are more opportunities for attack – every device is another opportunity. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), cyberattacks on utilities have increased rapidly since 2018 and increased dramatically in 2022 following the deployment of Russian forces on Ukrainian territory.

Examples include the April 2023 cyber attack on Hydro-Québec, Quebec’s state-owned electric utility, claimed by a pro-Russian group, and the failed cyber attack on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in May 2022 , which targeted 37,000 interconnected computers used by financial institutions in the country. Key threats include ransomware, remote access, supply chain intrusion, phishing and malware, resulting in loss of information, productivity and revenue.

IEC cybersecurity standards

International standards provide solutions to many cybersecurity challenges based on global best practices. They can help provide a strong and consistent level of security across different components and devices and ensure that different devices work together effectively and securely.

For example, IEC 62443 provides guidance for ensuring the cybersecurity of industrial automation and control systems and can be applied to any industrial environment, including critical infrastructure facilities such as power utilities or nuclear power plants, as well as in the healthcare and transportation sectors. ISO/IEC 27019, Information security, cybersecurity and data protection – Information security controls for the electric utility industry, extends the information security controls and measures set out in ISO/IEC 27002 to address the specific requirements of process control systems and automation technology used by national networks. This includes aspects such as monitoring and automation technology, digital controls, data visualization tasks, communication technology such as networks and telecontrol technology, digital protection and security systems and much more.

Considering the specific requirements of hydroelectric power plants, IEC/IEEE 63198-2775, Technical Guidelines for Intelligent Hydropower Plants, provides an open architecture with technical requirements for each part to improve the safe, reliable, efficient and economical operation of hydroelectric power plants and improve the interaction with the Smart Grid. It includes guidelines for communication networks, sensors, local monitoring and control devices, an integrated control and management platform (ICAMP), and intelligent control and management of power plants with existing instrumentation. The committee that developed it is also working on a technical specification that will provide guidance for the effective and high-performance digitalization of hydroelectric plant operations and maintenance.

The IECEE’s Industrial Cyber ​​Security program, the IEC System for Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, tests and certifies cybersecurity in the field of industrial automation. The IECEE conformity assessment program includes a program that enables certification to standards of the IEC 62443 series.

The use of IEC standards and the conformity assessment processes that ensure their correct application are therefore important tools to help the hydropower industry keep pace with demand and integrate the latest technologies safely and efficiently. All of this underlines its important role in a net zero future.

Clare Naden is a writer at IEC with more than 25 years’ experience in journalism and communications in New Zealand, the UK, Australia and Switzerland.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a global, non-profit membership organization that unites 174 countries and coordinates the work of 30,000 experts worldwide. International standards and conformity assessments from the IEC form the basis for international trade in electrical and electronic goods. They facilitate access to electricity and verify the safety, performance and interoperability of electrical and electronic devices and systems, including, for example, consumer devices such as mobile phones or refrigerators, office and medical equipment, information technology, power generation and much more.

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