Recent experiences with hydroelectric automation: consultant´s perspective

There has been a continuing trend of automating hydroelectric facilities, especially with the control system of some of the existing hydro facilities having gone through a number of upgrades. Some of the motivating factors for automation and/or upgrading the control systems have been: (i) cost savings, which could include reducing operation cost, optimizing staffing and optimizing operation within the plant and for an overall river complex; (ii) control as a commodity, given recent changes as a result of operation in the deregulated environment and with the special need for ancillary services which enhances the value of control as a commodity; (iii) technological advances and the aging of existing control facilities, which encourage automation in the process of fulfilling the needs for upgrades; (iv) reducing repetitive activities or eliminating a bottleneck in the routine operations; and (v) some other parameters, such as remote operation with availability of control and regulation to dispatch control centers