Global deployment of Darwin, the ENGIE digital platform dedicated to the competitiveness of renewable power generation facilities
11/05/2017News
5/10/2017 – Digitalization, Decentralization, Decarbonization: Darwin, the ENGIE digital platform developed by the France Renewable Energy BU is a data management and analysis tool that will be connected to all of the Group’s renewable energy production facilities by the end of 2018. Darwin targets all the renewable energy metiers and, first and foremost, operators of the facilities. Its goals? Improve the performance of wind and solar farms and develop predictive maintenance.
Darwin: how does it work?
Darwin collects, analyses and interprets, in real time, information transmitted by the sensors of the connected installations (wind speed, active power, temperature of the main components, vibrations, etc.), as well as external data such as meteorological forecasts or information about the electricity market.
All this data, stored in the Cloud, is analysed, compared and then rendered. The tool’s functions make it possible, based on the data, to compare the machines, detect underperformances or anomalies, carry out predictive maintenance and assist operators in their management and decision-making.
Darwin: what’s the objective?
By optimising operational performance, maximising production and revenue and reducing costs, Darwin will be an essential tool for enhancing the competitiveness of ENGIE’s renewable power generation facilities.
Progressive deployment
The Group’s General Management plans to extend the deployment of Darwin to all of the Group’s wind and solar assets. To date, more than 117 wind and solar farms are connected to Darwin, representing more than 1500 MW in 7 European countries, as well as SHEM installations (778 MW of hydroelectricity). The connection of all Group’s wind and solar farms will happen in 2017 and 2018 in parallel with the ramp-up of available functionalities.
The Darwin project is supported by the France Renewable Energy BU and is part of ENGIE DIGITAL OPERATION.
“In France, ENGIE is the leader in wind and solar power, and the leading alternative producer of hydroelectricity. The Darwin digital platform, a major innovation developed by the France Renewable Energy BU for the whole Group, unleashes huge potential for the performance of our facilities, thus helping the Group, whose global portfolio will be made up of 25% renewable energies by 2021, to reach its new objective.” Gwenaëlle Huet, CEO of France Renewable Energy BU.
Contact: Damien Terrié / Project Manager / damien.terrie@tractebel.engie.com
Save the date: ENGIE conference Darwin Talk on 14 September 2017 in the T1 auditorium, with the intervention of Yves Le Gélard, Executive Vice-President in charge of Digital and Information Systems and Gwenaëlle Huet, CEO of France Renewable Energy BU.
Focus on the France Renewable Energy BU
The France Renewable Energy BU is entirely dedicated to the development of renewable energy in France. Its mission is to be a showcase for the Group’s industrial excellence in this field, as well as that of its subsidiaries, and to be at the forefront of innovations transforming the global energy landscape.
In France, nearly 60% of the BU’s energy mix comes from renewable energies. The BU is already leading the way in green power production: n° 1 in PV (nearly 600 MWp)*, n° 1 in wind power (1,700 MW) and the leading alternative producer of hydroelectricity (3,800 MW).
By 2021, the BU plans to increase its wind power production to nearly 3 GW from 1,500 MW in 2015, to go up from 600 MWp of installed solar power in 2015 to nearly 2.2 GW, and to pursue its marine energy projects by capitalising on its expertise (fixed-bottom or floating offshore wind farms).
*total ENGIE figures (including Solairedirect and Companies and Local Authorities).
