Akselos has been selected for a pilot project with Irish electricity company, ESB, to create a structural digital twin of ESB’s Turlough Hill hydroelectric power station in County Wicklow.
The project aims to increase the sustainability of this unique asset with a full assessment of the hydro structure, to help extend its operational life to beyond the intended design life. This will help ESB achieve smarter asset management as part of its continued commitment to delivering low carbon energy solutions.
ESB has entered into pilot projects with a total of five international energy start-ups, all finalists in this year’s Free Electrons Accelerator Programme of which ESB is a founding member. The programme is designed to support start-ups who are working to transform the energy market with next-generation ideas. ESB and nine other global utilities work with each of the start-ups to refine and test their products with the potential to reach 80 million customers in more than 40 countries.
Andrew Young, VP of Projects, Akselos, said: “We are very excited to work with ESB to deliver the world’s first PHYSICS-BASED DIGITAL TWIN of a hydroelectric pump station. I believe Akselos will be able to deliver significant value to Turlough Hill by enabling operations beyond its design life. We have already delivered positive results in the short time we have been working on the project with the delivery of a digital twin of the penstock and manifold. THE HYDROELECTRIC PLANT IS STRATEGIC FOR ESB’S GRID STABILIZATION plan going to 2050 and beyond, and Akselos is able to complement traditional engineering with the latest innovation in technology.”
Akselos brings next generation simulation technology to the market, the first of its kind to be powerful enough to create holistic, real-time digital twins of large, complex assets. The sensor-enabled digital twin responds in real time to reflect the asset’s current condition, enabling active control of asset integrity and operations.
Denis O’Leary, ESB’s Head of Innovation, says: “ESB is delighted to partner with five of the world’s most exciting and innovative energy start-ups as part of the hugely successful Free Electrons Programme. This once again demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to supporting the brightest talent that are developing energy solutions for our customers. These are important steps as we lead the transition to a low-carbon future, with creative ideas, innovative thinking and new technologies at the heart of this transformation.”
Learn more about our project with ESB through our joint webinar.