Irish power station uses digital twin to increase life expectancy

A power station in Ireland hopes to increase its life expectancy by utilising a digital twin.

Turlough Hill is the Republic of Ireland’s only pumped storage hydropower station and aims to reduce its operating expenses while improving the management of its infrastructure.

We have already delivered positive results in the short time we have been working on the project

Electricity business ESB chose technology firm Akselos to build the digital version of the plant. According to Akselos, a recent project saw them help Shell to extend the life expectancy of one of their offshore platforms by 20 years.

"Akselos will be able to deliver significant value to Turlough Hill by enabling operations beyond its design life,” said Andrew Young, Vice President of Projects at Akselos.

“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 use of digital twin to achieve similar goals could soon become widespread across a greener Ireland, as the country have recently committed to reducing emissions by 80% before 2050.

(image: ESB)