Recent advancements in technology have created a whole host of exciting opportunities within the energy sector that can revolutionise many of our on-site processes.
AI is one area where every industry is exploring its uses and we’re seeing first-hand the impact it’s starting to have across all of the industry segments we provide services to. When it comes to energy, a large amount of data analytics is still done by people but there is potential for AI to support with this, particularly when it comes to site operations and maintenance.
This would involve integrating both current and new systems. When combined they would be able to automatically detect faults on site, helping to improve safety and automate processes. Condition monitoring like this has existed for a number of years, but now with AI technologies we can further optimise processes and gain deeper insights into what the data we are seeing really means.
Another area in our industry where we’re seeing technology deployed is robotics. There are exciting developments when it comes to using machines in the field to perform tasks that would otherwise be dangerous for humans.
For example, we’ve used the G.E BIKE to help perform safety inspections for pressure vessels, a crucial task within our industry. By deploying technology for this, it eliminates the need for people to enter confined spaces to carry out these inspections, reducing the risk of accidents or exposure to harmful substances.
It’s clear that the ongoing digital revolution will bring a whole host of new benefits to the sector. But whether its robotics or AI, all these developments have something in common – they are powered by data. If we’re to reap the rewards from these digital innovations, having the proper data infrastructure in place is crucial.
Building a solid data infrastructure
All digital technologies rely on the collection, processing and sharing of vast amounts of data. In our sector, this typically involves using tools like smart meters, sensors and grid systems to collect information like equipment performance as well as energy consumption and flow.
The first step to building this solid data infrastructure for new technologies like AI to use is to standardise data archives. This means ensuring all information follows the same formats and protocols so that it can be utilised across different systems and organisations. As with all data, it’s also about essential to put measures in place to protect any sensitive data and comply with privacy regulations.
And with new technologies only increasing the capacity of what we can do, any robust data infrastructure will also need to be scalable. This means building systems that can handle increasing volumes of data as the industry, and its technology, continues to evolve.
We shouldn’t underestimate how much of the data we need already exists. For years industrial systems have been collecting and collating information on operational infrastructure. Introducing AI analytics doesn’t mean re-inventing the wheel as the existing data, sensors and infrastructure already provides a perfectly valid starting point.
But building this strong infrastructure is not enough on its own. Technologies may be powered on data but they still rely on people to use them properly.
Upskilling people
This is one area where our industry currently faces a significant challenge.
Research shows that roughly 21 million working-age adults in the UK can’t perform the full set of tasks outlined in the government’s Essential Digital Skills Framework.i This digital skills gap is felt across all sectors, including energy, and has shown now signs of improving in recent years.
As more new digital innovations emerge, the demand for digitally skilled workers will only grow meaning its essential that we act now. This is where upskilling programmes can make all the difference.
There are many ways that we can organisations can look to achieve this. Simple online guides and video tutorials can be produced to teach employees how to carry out everyday tasks using systems like Microsoft CoPilot and ChatGPT.
Alongside this, offering comprehensive training courses in areas like data analytics, cybersecurity and cloud computing and investing in the digital education of people in our sector through new data or technology apprenticeships can go a long way in helping to address this gap.
There are a wealth of benefits to be had within the energy sector as more innovative technologies continue to be developed. But for the industry to harness the full potential of this digital transformation that we’re going through, it’s essential that we make sure both our data and our people are ready for this change.
