Investment in automation is crucial across all segments of the power industry except end users, according to a new report.
GlobalData’s The Future of Work in Power report states that automation technologies – which can include the likes of robotics, drones and 3D printing – will help solve a range of industry challenges. It adds that power companies that fail to invest in automation will get left behind.
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Most notable among the uses of automation technologies will be improving productivity and efficiency by having them handle operations and maintenance tasks, the report says.
“Robotic process automation will streamline administrative workflows by automating back-office tasks like compliance reporting and billing, eliminating inefficiencies and manual errors,” according to the report. “This will free up staff for higher revenue-generating activities like customer engagement.”
In addition, the report states that automation technologies will be pivotal for the installation and maintenance of millions of connected assets within the smart grid.
“Robots will expedite the deployment of these assets at scale, enhancing efficiency and reducing human labour,” it explains. “Autonomous drones will monitor widely dispersed renewable infrastructure, providing real-time data and facilitating rapid response to issues.”
The report also notes that automation technologies will help to reduce reliance on human labour across the power industry, alleviating skilled labour shortages by freeing up workers for higher-value tasks.
“Autonomous robots, drones and vehicles will take over various routine and non-routine menial tasks previously completed by human workers,” it says. “Automation technologies can perform these tasks more efficiently and accurately, boosting productivity while reducing the burden on a stretched labour force.
“As companies transition toward automation, they must address inevitable concerns about job displacement. While some functions will be entirely automated, power companies should invest in reskilling and upskilling existing workforces where possible to minimise redundancies and ensure a smooth transition to a new digital age.”
Elsewhere, the report says that automation technologies will help to improve health and safety in an industry that is “inherently high-risk”.
It explains: “Automation technologies will enhance health and safety across the power industry by displacing human workers from hazardous conditions. Autonomous robots can perform high-risk maintenance and inspection tasks like repairing power lines and monitoring equipment in confined spaces, reducing the exposure of human workers to risks like electric shocks, high temperatures, hazardous gases and falls from heights.”
Finally, the report indicates that automation technologies have a role to play for the energy security of countries.
“Autonomation technologies like robots, drones and autonomous vehicles will become important in securing critical energy infrastructure,” it says. “These technologies will be deployed to inspect pipelines, substations and wind turbines, reducing the risk of undetected vulnerabilities that could cause outages.”
