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Insights for Advanced Cascade Optimization and Real-Time Automation

Dalane Kraft AS, an established company in the Norwegian energy sector, operates the Haukland hydropower plant, located in southwestern Norway. Despite its capacity, Dalane’s 4.9 MW plant, built in 1913, faced complex operational challenges due to its intricate three-level cascade topology and environmental constraints.

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Top Challenges and Applied Solutions

Dalane Kraft AS encountered significant operational challenges at the Haukland plant due to the complex system of interconnected reservoirs and flow control gates, coupled with environmental regulations. Recognizing the need for a shift in management strategies, they embraced a technological solution by implementing HYDROGRID Insight. This enabled Haukland to adopt a more strategic and data-driven approach to its operations. The advanced machine-learning-based solution provided by HYDROGRID Insight utilizes real-time data along with robust automation capabilities through Kraft SCADA, enabling on-the-fly adjustments to reservoir levels, gate operations, and energy dispatch. 

The data-driven approach of HYDROGRID Insight facilitates the optimization of multiple powerplants with minimal numerical effort and personnel expenditure, reducing operation costs. This system has allowed Dalane Kraft to maintain full control over all data at all times, enabling rapid responses to external changes and leveraging power market volatility.

Impact and Takeaways

The outcome is a streamlined operation that not only meets but exceeds efficiency and environmental compliance standards. Depending on the hydrological conditions and market price developments, the financial performance improvement ranges from 5% to 12% (equivalent to EUR70,000–200,000) per annum for one 4.9 MW plant. 

HYDROGRID Insight is also an option for Small Hydro Power Plants of below 5 MW, which lack high investment and man-power resources. Implementing this optimization solution, Dalane Kraft avoids putting its profitability at risk.  

Time-saving Benefits

HYDROGRID Insight helps reduce the manual effort within the organization’s operations team and frees resources for other tasks, while reducing human error risks.

Environmental Constraint Automation

Environmental constraints protect the water systems that hydropower plants operate in. While these regulations are not directly linked to energy systems, they can greatly impact the daily running of the plant, as well as power production flexibility. The bridge downstream of Dalane’s Haukland Skarstemmevatn reservoir, for example, is protected from structural damage by a hard constraint which has been integrated in the plant’s production planning. 

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