KUCHING, Oct 5: Sarawak will establish a centralised hub that will link all power stations and harness sophisticated analytical tools for remote monitoring and diagnostics to realise the vision of a digital power plant.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi said backed by experts, it will empower plants to achieve optimal performance, ensuring heightened reliability, flexibility, efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
“It will empower plants to achieve optimal performance, ensuring heightened reliability, flexibility, efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
“Moreover, there is a control centre, which enables remote oversight and management of the power plants through cutting-edge technologies, including increased automation. Ultimately, this progress will lead to enhanced workforce optimisation and foster greater operational agility,” he said.
Julaihi highlighted these in his keynote on “Transforming Utilities and Telecommunication: A Journey of Innovation and Connectivity” at the World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) in conjunction with the 6th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
With Sarawak Energy Berhad having embarked on a digital transformation and modernisation journey as Sarawak aims to be a regional powerhouse for renewable energy, he underlined the need for concentrated efforts in transforming and digitalising power plants, employing cutting-edge technologies as well as embracing smart grid solutions.
Acknowledging that manual operations are no longer as cost effective or efficient, he emphasised that the adoption of computerised maintenance management systems will enable better decision-making through reporting and dashboarding with business intelligence tools.
“We are dedicated to the modernisation of the grid and smart power grid that prioritises safety, security, and reliability,” he said.
While the digitalisation and automation of the network system and operations have been centred on the transmission network since 1998, Julaihi shared that the focus shifted to the distribution network in 2016.
The Smart Grid development is guided by five of the seven key dimensions of the Smart Grid Index (SGI) namely data analytics, monitoring and control, security, supply stability, and consumer empowerment and satisfaction.
Over the next few years, Sarawak will direct its efforts towards implementing key smart grid initiatives such as distribution automation, online asset monitoring, distribution remote monitoring system, Geographical Information System (GIS), mobile field workforce automation, substation smart surveillance system and advanced metering and infrastructure and smart meters. — DayakDaily
