Work

Designing a Digital Transformation Strategy for Hydropower Generation in Colombia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Energy transition is driving substantial changes in the global electricity industry, yet large-scale digital transformation strategies for hydropower remain underexplored. This paper presents a case study on the design and early implementation of a digital transformation strategy for hydropower generation for one of the largest power generation companies in the Colombian electricity market. The research addresses the gap in study cases detailing digital transformation strategies and concrete digital transformation architecture for hydropower generators at the countrywide level. In this paper, we provide a detailed characterization of the Colombian electricity market while revealing the derivable benefits of digitally transformed electricity generation. While the designed strategy is expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s power generation and maintenance processes, it can also increase the flexibility of the electric grid to enable wind-solar energy incorporation in the Colombian electricity market. The project is currently under implementation and is expected to be fully operational by 2025.

Source: IEEE Access

DOI: 10.1109/access.2025.3555537

Authors: Edgar Guevara Pabón, Bladhimir Cortés González, Iván Camilo Durán Tovar, Luis Daniel Benavides Navarro, Agustin Marulanda Guerra

Institutions: Colombian Air Force, Instituto Nacional de Metrología de Colombia, Escuela Colombiana de Ingenieria Julio Garavito

Language: English

Topic: Smart Grid and Power Systems

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,075