Ensuring Energy Efficiency of Thermal Power Plants and Heating Networks by Means of Digital Transformation

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of state-of-the-art development of the energy industry enterprises of the Russian Federation with the introduction of innovative digital technologies. The relevance of the research on the chosen problem is due to the transformational processes in the energy industry, that occur under the influence of digital economy introduction and the development of digital technologies. A study of the current situation and features of domestic energy industry has been carried out to identify the main factors of low efficiency that encourage energy companies to digital transformation. One of the key directions of improving the production activities of energy sector enterprises of the Russian Federation for the development of energy efficiency management system due to digitalization processes is considered. Practical examples of the creation, implementation and development of digital technologies at existing thermal power plants and thermal networks aimed at reducing the energy intensity of electric and thermal energy production, the transition from a system of scheduled preventive repairs to repairs according to the actual condition of equipment: digital counterparts of thermal power plants, digital nodes of thermal networks, predictive analytics systems and remote monitoring. The purpose, functionality, principles and models of work, the effects obtained from the introduction of digital systems, promising directions for the development of digital technologies are considered. A comparative analysis was carried out to identify the advantages and disadvantages of foreign and domestic systems of digital doubles and predictive analytics developed under the sanctions of unfriendly countries. The key barriers hindering and constraining the processes of full-scale digital transformation of energy industry enterprises are presented. The necessary conditions and motivating factors of state support of domestic business for the successful implementation and development of digital technologies have been established.