The New Age of Hydro Operations - A case study in digitalisation of operations at Dalane Kraft

Hydropower operators are increasingly required to manage complex operational constraints while responding to dynamic market conditions and regulatory requirements. This case study examines how Dalane Kraft AS supports their hydroelectric asset operators in optimizing production planning and dispatchusing HYDROGRID's automated forecasting, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision support.

Key findings

• Double digit increase in annual revenue through optimized price driven dispatch.
• Improved water usage efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations.
• Reduced manual workload and operational risk through automation.

Objectives

Dalane Kraft started this project with the goal to improve profitability and efficiency by transitioning from manual operations to automated systems Existing systems available on the market were either outdated or unsuitable, so they built their ideal set-up from scratch, based on real operational needs.

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Solution

The Dalane team seamlessly integrated HYDROGRID Insight into their SCADA system, which allowed them to:

·     transition to a single-source-of-truth & phase out syncs between shifts

·     implement automated day-ahead price-driven dispatch, based on our real-time inflow forecast

·     automate 67 environmental and operational constraints related to downstream flow, reservoir level and downstream infrastructure protection

Benefits

1. Custom built processes for minimal friction

The operations team can collaborate on the same platform and stay up to date with real time changes, as well as implement changes with immediate impact on production planning.

2. Improved inflow forecasting accuracy

The day-ahead production plan for each of the 16 plants is informed by a customized, advanced inflow forecasting model that learns from historical data and has been improving daily over the past four years, since implementation.

3. Prioritized constraint compliance

The Dalane team manages highly constrained environmental and operational projects, made difficult  by local regulations, but also by the nordic climate and the age of some machines. HYDROGRID Insight integrates the fleet’s 67 interconnected constraints in production plans automatically, ensuring compliance before price driven dispatch strategies.

Conclusion

The deployment of HYDROGRID’s digital solution enabled the team to overcome several significant operational challenges. Despite managing 16 hydropower plants with a lean team including only six operators, the platform’s automation and centralized control features ensured efficient oversight and reduced manual workload and overhead.

The system also facilitated seamless participation in 15-minute intraday energy markets by providing accurate, real-time forecasts and automated dispatch recommendations. Additionally, the integration of legacy infrastructure—some of it over 85 years old—was achieved without major retrofitting, demonstrating the platform’s compatibility with existing assets. These outcomes underscore the value of targeted digitalization in enhancing operational resilience and market responsiveness in hydropower operations.

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