Digital Transformation of Energy Companies: A Colombian Case Study

Sandra Giraldo, David la Rotta, César Nieto-Londoño, Rafael E. Vásquez and Ana Escudero-Atehortúa
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Sandra Giraldo: AES Colombia, Calle 100 No 19-54 Of 901, Bogotá 110111, Colombia
David la Rotta: AES Colombia, Calle 100 No 19-54 Of 901, Bogotá 110111, Colombia
César Nieto-Londoño: School of Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia
Rafael E. Vásquez: School of Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia
Ana Escudero-Atehortúa: School of Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: The United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the fulfillment of the 7th, defined as “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all”, requires energy industry transitions and digital transformations, which implies that diverse stakeholders need to move fast to allow the growth of more flexible power systems. This paper contains the case report that addresses the commercial digital transformation process developed at AES Colombia, through the implementation of a modern platform based on specialized applications that use Industry 4.0 tools. The Chivor hydropower project, a 1000-MW powerplant that covers 6% of Colombia’s demand, which is owned by AES Colombia and constitutes its primary asset, is first described. Then, a description of Colombia’s complex market (energy matrix, trading and dispatch mechanisms, and future projects) is presented. Then, the methodology followed for the digital transformation process using modern tools is described. The project, conceived as a broad framework, comprises applications for the management of hydrological, operational, and market information, commercial information systems and platforms to facilitate consultation and analysis by different users. Such an innovative project in the Latin American context has been developed in order reduce risks and to contribute to a sustainable energy supply for the future.

Keywords: digital transformation; energy transition; energy trading; energy commercialization; risk management; Industry 4.0; artificial intelligence; renewable energy; hydropower projects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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