Rockwell Automation has announced the successful deployment of its industrial AI technology at PVO-Vesivoima’s hydroelectric plants in Finland. The cutting-edge solution leverages real-time data, AI, and machine learning to optimize turbine performance, enhance grid stability, and meet new regulatory demands in Finland’s energy sector. This marks a significant advancement in AI-driven industrial automation applied to critical infrastructure.
1. AI Meets Hydropower: Real-Time Grid Frequency Control
- Rockwell’s system applies real-time operational data and machine learning to analyze turbine-grid interactions.
- The Allen-Bradley® ControlLogix® Compute module makes real-time adjustments to turbine parameters based on fluctuations in grid frequency.
- The result: improved efficiency and precision control of water turbines to help balance national grid requirements.
2. Tangible Benefits for Energy Infrastructure
- Reduced turbine wear due to optimized operation extends equipment life and cuts maintenance costs.
- AI-enhanced control enables participation in Finland’s reserve-market power delivery, critical for rapid response and grid stability.
- PVO-Vesivoima is currently the only Nordic energy company compliant with Fingrid’s new high-speed regulation requirements.
3. Secure, Integrated, and Scalable Automation
- The solution integrates tightly with existing PLC systems, adding cybersecurity resilience and low-latency performance.
- The edge computing approach, using rack-mounted AI hardware, highlights a growing trend in industrial environments.
- Seamless collaboration with Klinkmann Automation and researchers at the University of Oulu provided deep domain expertise in both AI and control theory.
4. Leadership Insight: A Model for Critical Infrastructure
- Asa Arvidsson of Rockwell Automation points out that autonomous operations in critical infrastructure will become more prevalent.
- “This is an ideal shop window for the capabilities of such an approach,” he stated, pointing to the broader implications for industrial sectors globally.
5. Exclusive Innovation in Action
- Tommi Hansen-Haug, operations specialist at PVO-Vesivoima, emphasized Rockwell’s unique value proposition:
“No one else had a solution for this except Rockwell Automation.” - The collaboration exemplifies how industry-academic partnerships can yield first-of-its-kind technologies for essential utilities.
Rockwell Automation’s partnership with PVO-Vesivoima and the University of Oulu illustrates how AI-driven industrial automation can redefine energy production and infrastructure stability. By harnessing real-time data and advanced AI at the edge, this pioneering initiative showcases the power of technology to meet regulatory demands, enhance sustainability, and future-proof critical energy systems.
