Flexible Operations Demands Integration of People, Process and Technology

Shifts to lower carbon generation is being accommodated by social pressures, low gas prices and the onset of renewable energy transforming the mission for generating stations around the world. Generating stations are chasing loads to meet market demands and the transformation demands changes for our PEOPLE, PROCESS and TECHNOLOGIES. Here's a few thoughts:

PEOPLE: 

Four core components necessary for flexible operations, includes: Training & awareness, application of best practices, systematic program management and plant defense strategies. For measurement of success, I believe that adapting to flexible operations requires a measurement of flexibility under varying operating modes to understand the demands for the improvements needed from people, process and technologies. The future demands us to improve upon the things we know and better understand the things we don’t. 

PROCESS: 

While the performance of most power system components is interrelated and synchronized, those seeking budget dollars to complete repairs for equipment damage, typically are not. Thus, assessments must by systematic, collaborative and comprehensive when attempting to identify areas of vulnerability and prioritize costly recommendations.  A systematic guide to conducting flexibility evaluations can be found in past EPRI R&D projects. I believe the most economical and cost-effective solutions for managing an asset is the application of performance management programs and deploying systematic processes. This helps protect assets without depleting O&M budgets by mitigating damage through assessment and optimization. 

TECHNOLOGY

In order to promote safe, efficient and event-free operations, we must protect industry assets by WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER, using advanced measurement and management systems to control a spectrum of variable operating conditions.  Albert Einstein once quoted, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”  Change demands action and foresight that helps predict the probability of future outcomes that lead to failure.