HEIDENHEIM — The Voith Group, a global technology leader, has announced a groundbreaking partnership between Voith Hydro, a prominent supplier of hydroelectric equipment, and the Austrian corporate start-up STRUCINSPECT, aimed at optimizing the efficiency of hydropower stations. Leveraging STRUCINSPECT’s pioneering Infrastructure Lifecycle Hub, a cutting-edge web-based collaboration platform, the collaboration seeks to revolutionize digital infrastructure inspection and lifecycle management for hydropower dams, bridges, and tunnels. The innovative solution, already successfully employed in the transportation infrastructure sector, holds immense potential for enhancing the management of hydropower installations worldwide, according to a press release published on EuropaWire.

A pivotal aspect of this partnership is the joint pilot project underway in Scotland, focusing on the comprehensive inspection of the 72-year-old Clunie station. Employing advanced technologies such as drones, underwater devices, and smartphones, data collection is streamlined and facilitated. This data is then seamlessly integrated into the Infrastructure Lifecycle Hub, where sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms analyze it to generate detailed 3D models. These digital inspections enable engineers to make informed maintenance decisions, identifying even the minutest changes with AI-assisted damage detection. This transformative approach promises shorter inspection intervals, reduced manual effort, and optimized resource allocation, ensuring the continued reliability and safety of hydropower infrastructure.

Dr. Norbert Riedel, Chief Technology Officer at Voith Hydro, hailed the simplicity and ingenuity of the digital inspection and tracking system, emphasizing its potential to enhance safety and efficiency in infrastructure management.

Stephen Crooks, Renewables (Civil) Engineer at SSE, expressed enthusiasm for the transformative impact of this technology, highlighting the centralized management of data and the tangible business value it generates.

Albrecht Karlusch, Managing Director at STRUCINSPECT, underscored the critical role of digital inspection technology in addressing the limitations of traditional manual inspections, ensuring the timely detection of damages and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

The partnership between Voith Hydro and STRUCINSPECT marks a significant milestone in the evolution of hydropower station management, harnessing cutting-edge technologies to drive efficiency, safety, and sustainability in the renewable energy sector.