For years, part of the benefit of technological advancement has been the ability to refine previously difficult processes. The more complex our technology becomes, the easier we can make once-challenging problems. Many industries have benefited from this over the years, and it looks like geothermal planning might be about to receive a welcome modernization thanks to innovations within the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) communities.
Thanks to the work carried out by Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS), vast changes are coming in the near future. They’ve taken part in a wide-ranging research plan that looks to bring together IoT and AI technology together. The aim is to try and improve the capacity of geothermal plants, with the aim being to reduce capacity problems by a tenth and power plant problems by a fifth.
Undergoing long-term research with help from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), this could be a critical development for the industry. With the aim being to use geothermal power to act as a strong baseline for renewable energies across the globe, this could help to further showcase the benefits of geothermal power.
Making geothermal power more efficient
The challenge is showing that geothermal power is cost-effective, with other sources – such as solar energy – proving to be more efficient at present. With these changes spearheaded by Toshiba, though, that could change quickly.
By making the most of big data analysis and by improving preventative measures that are in place, the aim is to help improve capacity factor and reduce problems enough to help show that geothermal energy is still an efficient form of power.
Speaking about the development was Takao Konishi, the Director, Vice President of the Thermal & Hydro Power Systems and Services Division at Toshiba ESS, saying: “We are confident that these tests will serve for boosting introduction of geothermal power and contribute to a realization of a low-carbon society.”
With Toshiba ESS making up close to a quarter of the installed capacity for geothermal energy, at around 23%, they make the ideal choice for taking the system they first delivered in the mid-1960s work even better than before. In such a cost-demanding industry, any changes that can make it more efficient will only be met with optimism and praise.