Digitalisation and Modernisation of Hydropower Operating Facilities to Support the Colombian Energy Mix Flexibility

Aldemar Leguizamon-Perilla, Juan S. Rodriguez-Bernal, Laidi Moralez-Cruz, Nidia Isabel Farfán-Martinez, César Nieto-Londoño (), Rafael E. Vásquez and Ana Escudero-Atehortua
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Aldemar Leguizamon-Perilla: South America Strategic Business Unit, AES Corporation, Santiago de Chile 7550000, Chile
Juan S. Rodriguez-Bernal: South America Strategic Business Unit, AES Corporation, Santiago de Chile 7550000, Chile
Laidi Moralez-Cruz: South America Strategic Business Unit, AES Corporation, Santiago de Chile 7550000, Chile
Nidia Isabel Farfán-Martinez: South America Strategic Business Unit, AES Corporation, Santiago de Chile 7550000, Chile
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-Atehortua: School of Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Hydropower plants cover almost 70% of the Colombian electrical demand, were built several decades ago, and present low levels of digitisation compared to other modern power-generation technologies, e.g., wind turbines, solar PV plants, and recently buil hydroelectric plants t. Renovating power plant equipment and investing in modernisation and digitisation can significantly increase the plant flexibility. Those actions will increase a plant’s operational safety and contribute to the solution of environmental and social problems. This work presents the actions followed to extend the lifetime of a 1000 MW hydropower plant operating for more than 40 years. Activities included a residual life status evaluation of generators and component upgrades, among others. The rehabilitation and digitalisation of the generation units allow their integration and remote monitoring so that diagnostic actions can be carried out during a continuous and economically sustainable operation. These activities complement the plan implemented by the company during the last decade to ensure the plant’s operation for another 50 years and its respective integration with nonconventional generation systems at the national level. Besides the generator’s life extension, the main result of rewinding is an increase in the Minimum Breakdown Voltage by almost 140% (from 38.4 kV to 95.6 kV) with respect to the current operation state, ensuring its operation for the following years.

Keywords: hydropower digitalisation; technology development; energy transition; digital transformation; hydropower projects; sustainable energy (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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