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TECHNOLOGY
like Sitetracker's-that seamlessly integrate
with legacy infrastructure, reducing
the burden of operational integration.
To address cost concerns, providers are
emphasizing the long-term savings that
advanced O&M tools can deliver through
preventative maintenance, optimized
workflows, and reduced downtime. Finally,
user-friendly interfaces and robust
training programs are helping to overcome
internal resistance by empowering
employees to adapt to new technologies
with ease and focusing on workforce development,
including upskilling programs.
3. A uniquely customized underwater drone, developed by the ORCA Hub in partnership with
EDF, in 2022 conducted the first autonomous inspection of turbine foundations at the Blyth
Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Northumberland, UK. Courtesy: Heriot Watt University
ers. Sarcos Robotics has developed the
Guardian S robot, which performs remote
inspections in hazardous areas, reducing
risks to personnel. Like several other
utilities, National Grid has deployed Boston
Dynamics' Spot robot to automate
inspections at high-voltage converter stations,
using thermal imaging sensors to
detect potential issues. In another example,
EDF Renewable Energy has tested
autonomous underwater robotic vehicles
(ROVs) for offshore wind farm inspections
(Figure 3). The robots create detailed 3D
models of underwater assets to allow for
frequent and thorough monitoring without
the need for divers.
Edge Computing. Edge computing
is also poised to transform utility operations
by enabling data processing and
analysis closer to the source, significantly
enhancing
system
responsiveness
and reducing latency. For utilities, the
technology promises to facilitate realtime
monitoring of energy distribution,
predictive maintenance, and grid management,
all while minimizing reliance
on centralized infrastructure.
Large
Language
Models
and incident reports, providing faster access
to critical information. Additionally,
ComEd is investigating how LLMs can
democratize data, enabling non-experts
to query operational metrics in natural
language with visualized results. However,
LLMs require rigorous testing and
human oversight to mitigate inaccuracies
to ensure they complement, not replace,
traditional engineering practices.
(LLMs).
While relatively new, LLMs-AI-powered
tools designed for natural language processing-offer
immense potential for
advancing power sector O&M. These
models excel at processing large volumes
of text-based data, such as equipment
manuals and regulatory documents, to
streamline workflows. ComEd, for example,
is exploring LLMs to improve outage
management by categorizing messages,
processing trouble reports, and extracting
actionable details like locations and
timestamps. LLMs are also being tested
for summarizing dense technical manuals
February 2025 | POWER
Barriers to Adoption
While the benefits of innovative O&M
tools are clear, their implementation is
not without challenges. The most cited involves
operational integration. Many utilities
struggle with integrating data from
disparate systems and standardizing it
across their operations, often against
legacy infrastructure. Costs are also a
major concern, particularly as cost competition
grows more complex amid rapid
shifts in the power space. Another muchcited
deterrent is that companies must
demonstrate value, including long-term
savings. Resistance to change within organizations
can also hinder the adoption
of O&M tools. Other issues concern cybersecurity
and regulatory complexity,
specifically related to environmental compliance
and grid reliability standards. Supply
chain issues and workforce adaptation
also factor in heavily. While recent global
events have highlighted
vulnerabilities
in supply chains for critical components,
securing skilled talent to implement and
maintain tools can be cumbersome.
To alleviate these concerns, companies
are increasingly tailoring their approaches
to meet the unique challenges
of the power sector. Many have homed
in on flexible, interoperable platforms-
www.powermag.com
Investing in the Future of O&M
Looking over the long-term, Obenauer
predicts that companies will sink their
investments more prominently in " systems
that are helping to consolidate their
view of the world. " The future of O&M
will rest on " tools to help them do work
better and smarter and faster, " she said.
A key focus for future investment will
likely rest on advanced analytics and AI.
" This is going to be a huge piece moving
forward, " she said. The tools hold two
important capabilities. First, they can help
power companies maximize the uptime
and efficiency of their assets, reducing
costly outages and maintenance expenses.
Second, they can enhance the
productivity and safety of field crews by
automating repetitive tasks and providing
data-driven insights to guide their work,
she noted. Sitetracker is " being incredibly
intentional about how we're investing
in AI to help enhance the workflows our
customers are already managing within
our platform. Ultimately, we believe that
traditional methods used to plan, build,
operate, and maintain critical infrastructure
can't keep pace with modern demands.
But, Sitetracker can. And when
enhanced with AI and machine learning,
the possibilities are endless, " she said.
Andrew Robson, technical expert
of O&M Solutions at Siemens Energy,
agreed.
" Artificial intelligence is, of
course, on the rise at O&M, and we
have not even begun to exploit its true
potential, " he said. " One notable aspect
is our use of AI and various machine
learning techniques to review extensive
maintenance and historical data at
a power plant. " However, while these
technologies will provide " valuable recommendations, "
the human factor is
non-negotiable " to ensure the accuracy
and appropriateness of the AI-generated
conclusions and confirm the final decisions, "
he said. ■
-Sonal Patel is a POWER senior editor.
25

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