In an effort to enhance operations and maintenance at the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station in Kenya, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has turned to the power of the Internet of Things (IoT). The project, which was funded by the Kenyan and Japanese governments in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and KenGen, aims to install and demonstrate the effectiveness of IoT technology at the facility.
But what exactly is the IoT, and how does it work? Simply put, the IoT refers to the connection of devices, such as sensors, to the internet, allowing them to send and receive data. This technology has the potential to revolutionize a variety of industries by enabling the digital connection of devices, the exchange of information, and the control of processes.
In the case of the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station, the IoT technology will be used to centralize, accumulate, and analyze operational data at a data center equipped with specialized servers and collection and transmission systems. This data can be used to make informed decisions on maintenance and project future needs, ultimately leading to increased efficiency and productivity as well as reduced operation and maintenance costs.
“The data collected and stored by the IoT system will help us make informed decisions on the maintenance we need to carry out. It will also help us to estimate the needs we need in the near future,” said Eng. Harrison Keter, acting Operations Manager at KenGen.
But the benefits of the IoT don’t stop there. As Koji Nakaoka, Vice President and Head of the Energy and Sustainability Business, and Global Sales at Yokogawa, the IoT solution provider for the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station project, stated, “The solution not only optimizes maintenance and maximizes power generation efficiency, but it also ensures a reliable supply of power.”
The successful installation of the IoT technology at the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station marks yet another example of the rapid spread of this technology across various industrial sectors. As more and more devices become connected to the internet, it’s clear that the IoT will continue to transform the way we live and work. And with the help of organizations like UNIDO, JICA, and KenGen, the adoption of this technology is sure to accelerate even further, bringing with it a host of benefits for individuals and businesses alike.