AboitizPower leverages A.I. and Tech in Clean Power Generation

Specialized drones. The operations and maintenance of AboitizPower’s Cayanga-Bugallon Solar Power facility in Pangasinan (pictured) is supported by drone technology, allowing for precision and boosting maintenance efficiency.

Living out its purpose of Transforming Energy for a Better World and partaking in the Aboitiz Group’s Great Transformation, Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) intends to pioneer sustainable energy solutions powered by advanced technologies and human ingenuity.

Aboitiz Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of AboitizPower, has adopted artificial intelligence (A.I.) and other technologies to shield vital infrastructure against natural hazards and ensure reliable operations. Digital twins, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and Light Detection and Ranging or LiDAR are used to create a dynamic virtual replica of the terrain wherein a facility is situated.

The A.I.-powered system enables periodic monitoring of terrain data to predict landslides with unmatched precision. Combined, high-resolution LiDAR scans and in-depth ERT data allows Aboitiz Renewables to detect geohazard risks early, enabling engineers to take immediate action and minimize risk.

“We’re not waiting for risks to materialize — we’re actively predicting and preventing them,” explained Aboitiz Renewables SAVP for Reliability, Engineering & Asset Management Galen Alova. “By leveraging A.I. technology, we give our engineers the tools to continuously monitor and assess potential landslides, enabling us to maintain safe, reliable energy production with minimal disruption.”

This system is already running in Aboitiz Renewables’ run-of-river hydropower plants operated by Hedcor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables. 

“Our focus is to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of clean energy as much as possible, no matter the external challenges,” said Aboitiz Renewables First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Operations Noreen Vicencio. “This A.I. technology enables our engineers to better anticipate potential risks, minimize disruptions, and even help secure the communities we serve.”

Looking ahead, Aboitiz Renewables plans to expand its geohazard management capabilities. While the system currently integrates earthquake-induced risks into its landslide simulations, ongoing developments will allow it to incorporate additional geohazard data, further strengthening the company’s ability to address a broader range of risks and enhance the resilience of its renewable energy assets.

“With these advancements, we are helping shape a more secure and sustainable energy future,” Vicencio added. “It’s about using innovation to protect not only our operations but also the communities and the environment that rely on clean, renewable energy.”

At the same time, serving as the first of its kind in the Philippine power generation sector, Aboitiz Renewables also operates a National Operations Control Center (NOCC), which allows for the operation and monitoring of 28 renewable energy facilities all from one location.

Despite most of the plants being in faraway, mountainous areas, NOCC engineers can observe, make decisions, and control its operations from their computer. Monitoring and data collection are also streamlined, making it easier to consolidate data for strategizing and meeting regulatory requirements.

With operational control and data collection being centralized in the NOCC, operators utilize data analytics, data science, and A.I. for better resource management, leading to more efficient operations and dispatch of the hydropower and solar facilities integrated in the system. The NOCC also allows for faster communication of detected plant anomalies within its regulated ecosystem, contributing to minimized downtime and losses. 

Specialized drones are also deployed in some of AboitizPower’s hydropower and solar power plants to make maintenance and rehabilitation activities more efficient. Power plant operators would no longer have to manually visit and inspect each solar panel, conveyance line, or any other component of a renewable energy facility if a drone can do it for them.

Using drones makes inspections quicker, saving AboitizPower a lot of resources since it initially takes significant time and effort for a person to check on plant assets given the sheer size and scope of its facilities.

Outfitted with high-resolution cameras and other onboard sensing equipment, the drones diagnose maintenance requirements faster, resulting in less downtime and more reliability in clean power generation.

AboitizPower is one of the largest power producers and distributors in the Philippines, with a balanced portfolio of assets located in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. To date, together with its partners, it offers the largest renewable energy portfolio in the country based on installed capacity under its operational control. It also has thermal power plants in its generation portfolio to support baseload and peak energy demands.

In step with the country’s ambitions for its energy mix, AboitizPower aims to grow its portfolio of generation assets with renewables and selected baseload builds.

The Aboitiz Group launched its Great Transformation campaign in 2022 to become the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, leveraging resources and cross-company synergies to deliver more stakeholder value and help tech-up the Philippine economy.

Beyond the technological shift, the Great Transformation also signals a change in human behavior, especially as navigating adversities and opportunities still hinges on the quality of the people, including their capacity and willingness to learn and innovate.

By focusing on the operational reliability and efficiency of its generation portfolio and putting a premium on people development, AboitizPower is helping strengthen energy security and deliver reliable power amidst the Philippine energy transition.