This year, SRP has invested more than $2.6 million in 36 projects with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona to improve the valley’s power system and watershed.
These projects are part of SRP’s commitment to the reliable delivery of power and water, and each project is assessed for further deployment in future. Among these projects is one with ASU on using the latest technology to proactively maintain SRP’s hydropower fleet.
Student researchers studying under Assistant Professor Thomas Czerniawski at ASU’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment are conducting two SRP grant-funded studies focused on preserving and maintaining the value of the hydropower assets on SRP’s watershed.
The first involves using lidar technology to assess wear and tear on the hydropower turbines in the 129 MW Horse Mesa and 60 MW Mormon Flat powerhouses. Some of these turbines have been on SRP’s system since the 1970s and weigh upwards of 40 tons. ASU researchers are using high-definition images to better assess the life cycle of these assets and develop timelines for when maintenance will be required and when ultimate replacement of the asset is needed.
The second team is using digital twin technology to conduct detailed modeling of SRP’s hydropower assets. Their goal is to create a “Level 3 Predictive Twin,” potentially setting a new standard for proactive maintenance and modernization across SRP’s hydropower fleet. Digital twin technology uses a blend of physical asset models and data analytics that mimics the behavior of a real generation resource, enabling insights through simulations. This information could help SRP improve the function and lifespan of its power generation assets as well as safety objectives across multiple SRP divisions.
“SRP is proud to invest in projects with our state universities to not only encourage innovation but also find ways to improve our day-to-day operations,” said Chico Hunter, SRP’s manager of innovation and development. “The advantage of working with university students on real-world issues and solutions is these talented individuals could be a part of our future workforce.”
SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility that provides electricity to about 1.1 million customers and provides water to about half of the valley’s residents. It has a total of eight hydroelectric facilities.
