On a quest for a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system, New York State made a major step forward recently with the opening of a cutting-edge digitized power asset monitoring and diagnostic center at the New York Power Authority (NYPA) headquarters in White Plains, N.Y. The Integrated Smart Operations Center (iSOC) uses GE Digital’s predictive analytics software to analyze the performance of NYPA’s power generation assets and statewide network of transmission lines to identify problems and issues before they occur.
“With the opening of this state-of-the-art center, we are modernizing our state energy system and creating a more resilient, reliable and flexible power grid helping to grow our clean energy economy,” said New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.
Beginning with a single 500 MW power plant in Queens, just a year later NYPA is now monitoring all of its generation and transmission assets from the iSOC. That’s 16 power plants and more than 1,400 circuit miles of transmission lines. Data is collected from more than 24,000 sensors embedded in equipment. Key highlights from that data are displayed in real time on an 81-foot video wall with more than a dozen data screens. NYPA engineers can then promptly address potential issues with plant operation managers.
NYPA plans to integrate additional monitoring capabilities on GE’s Predix application platform in the future, including emergency operations, cybersecurity, physical security, network operations, information technology and data analytics.
To learn more about the technology being used in this and future phases of the iSOC, read our case study, “Major Power Utility Embraces Remote Monitoring.”
The state-of-the-art center advances the NYPA’s goal to become the first all-digital public power utility in the U.S. “Utilities need to move more aggressively into the digital age if we are to build a grid that is more affordable, resilient and with fewer emissions,” said Richard L. Kauffman, New York State’s chairman of energy and finance. “Much as it did as a pioneer in the early days of large-scale hydro development, NYPA is setting the pace to become the nation's first digital end-to-end utility.”
Online monitoring of power plants, substations and power lines will increase plant efficiency and productivity, reduce unplanned downtime, lower maintenance costs and minimize operational risks. “Today is a banner day for NYPA and a historic day for New York state’s energy system,” said John R. Koelmel, chairman of NYPA’s board of trustees. “This digital power operations center will help NYPA make optimal, cost-efficient asset management decisions at its power-generating facilities that will improve performance, lower operating costs, and help to reduce carbon emissions throughout the state by running more efficient generation and transmission facilities.”
Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO, added, “By using advanced data analysis to monitor all our assets simultaneously, we can continue to provide low-cost and reliable power while making smart and efficient operating decisions in real time.”
NYPA is leading the way for digital transformation in the power and utility industry, said Bill Ruh, CEO of GE Digital and chief digital officer of GE. “Our collaboration can serve as an example for how GE’s digital solutions are purpose-built for industry, increasing efficiency and productivity in some of the most complex operations,” he said. “Through a fully integrated approach to Big Data and analytics, our software solutions like Asset Performance Management are helping organizations like NYPA turn insights into action and make power affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable.”
Predictive analytics have already helped NYPA address issues that could have escalated into more serious problems. Going forward, the iSOC will help prevent potentially expensive shutdowns of power assets for repairs or replacement.
Also housed on the 25,000-square-foot all-digital floor will be NYPA’s New York Energy Manager (NYEM) and its Advanced Grid Innovation Laboratory for Energy (AGILe), which uses data analytics to simulate, develop, deploy and integrate the next-generation electric grid.
