TITLEREVIEW OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPLEMENTATION OPPORTUNITIES IN HYDROPOWER PLANTS
AUTHOR(S)
Plamen Nakov1*, Sinan Salim2
ABSTRACT
Hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) are a key component of sustainable electricity generation, providing flexibility and stability to the energy system. Despite their high reliability, traditional control and maintenance systems in HPPs are often based on outdated automated solutions that do not fully utilize the potential of modern digital technologies. This article presents an overview of the opportunities for implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in HPPs to improve their efficiency, reliability and sustainability. The main areas of application of AI are considered – forecasting of water resources and energy production, optimization of turbine management, predictive maintenance, intelligent monitoring and increasing energy efficiency. A conceptual architecture for integrating AI into existing SCADA and PLC systems is presented, as well as the main challenges related to data, technological compatibility and cybersecurity. The article emphasizes that the implementation of AI can lead to a significant reduction in operating costs, improvement of operational security and integration of HPPs into smart energy grids. In conclusion, the prospects for the development of digital twins, hybrid physically-informed models and autonomous AI systems are outlined, which will determine the future of smart hydroelectric power plants. Keywords: AI, HPP, predictive maintenance, digital twins, energy efficiency.
DOI
How to cite this article:
Plamen Nakov1*, Sinan Salim2, Yordan Petkov, REVIEW OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPLEMENTATION OPPORTUNITIES IN HYDROPOWER PLANTS, UNITECH – SELECTED PAPERS - 2025