EDP Uses APM Predictive Analytics to Optimize Generation Portfolio Customer Story Bar Share Customer Information Introduction Industry Power Generation Products SmartSignal Predictive Analytics, Predictive Analytics The Challenge EDP, a multinational utility operating across 29 markets, faced significant operational and market-driven challenges in its Iberian conventional generation portfolio. In 2017, the energy sector experienced rapid changes that lead to their predictive analytics journey: Increased Penetration of Renewables: Growing intermittent renewable generation in the wholesale market introduced volatility and operational complexity.Market Volatility: Price fluctuations and the end of power purchase agreements increased financial and operational risk.Aging Asset Portfolio: A diverse fleet, including assets dating back to 1951, required modernization to maintain reliability and efficiency.Rising Fiscal Burdens: Increased operational costs demanded improved efficiency and cost control.Data Limitations: Legacy systems and older plants lacked sufficient, actionable operational data for advanced analytics. These challenges necessitated new approaches to risk management, reliability, and operational optimization, with a particular emphasis on leveraging digital analytics for predictive maintenance and efficiency improvements. The Solution EDP selected GE Vernova for their mature digital analytics platform,(SmartSignal Cloud and SmartSignal Edge). EDP established a Remote Monitoring and Diagnostic Center for conventional generation assets in Iberia. This included 26 sites, encompassing hydro, gas, and coal assets and 13,000 tags from sensors. They picked GE Vernova’s SmartSignal due to the software’s platform maturity and specific analytics templates for their asset fleet. Historical data was leveraged where available. Older plants underwent automation upgrades to enable effective data collection and model deployment. EDP shows distinct advantages and reasons for having APM Cloud and APM Edge solutions.Image credit: EDP Here are key elements to address their challenges: Adoption & Autonomy Building: GE Vernova provided the initial training and implementation. GE Vernova’s consulting and monitoring service, IMS, provided 6-month alert management, weekly trainings, and model implementation training. Since 2021, ETP is fully autonomous and successfully managing alerts, case management, and model maintenance internally.Continuous Improvement: Systematic tracking of missed catches enabled ongoing improvement of model accuracy and early warning capabilities.Internal Capability Growth: EDP achieved full operational autonomy in managing the center, with trained staff and robust internal processes.Data Modernization Success: Upgrades to legacy assets enabled comprehensive data integration and analytics, unlocking new value from older plants. The Result Use Case #1: Combined-Cycle Plant IP Feedwater Pump EDP presented a SmartSignal AI/ML digital twin alert to an increase on the bearing temperatures of a pump which helped the maintenance tip prevent a tip.Image credit: EDP Use Case #2: Hydro Plant NDE/UGB Shocks EDP presented a SmartSignal alert to cooling losses for their hydo asset and how they also used SmartSignal to monitor the unit's performance to ensure the actions performance fixed the issue. Image credit: EDP The Remote Monitoring and Diagnostic Center delivered substantial benefits:Since 2018, the Remote Monitoring and Diagnostic Center has played a pivotal role in driving EDP’s operational excellence and digital transformation. By leveraging predictive, real-time analytics and modernizing legacy assets, the center has strengthened reliability, optimized maintenance, and empowered internal teams—all while delivering measurable cost savings across a diverse fleet. Early detection and predictive monitoring minimized downtime and major failures, resulting in significant cost avoidance and improved asset availability across over 750 cases.Online monitoring and integrated analytics replaced manual inspections, enabling better maintenance planning, reduced costs, and continuous improvement in model accuracy.Scalable remote management and comprehensive data integration fostered internal capability growth, achieving full operational autonomy and unlocking new value from older plants. Summary: EDP’s Remote Monitoring and Diagnostic Center transformed conventional asset management through advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, and digital operations. By overcoming data and organizational challenges, EDP improved reliability, reduced costs, and built a foundation for ongoing digital innovation and operational excellence.The above summary is based upon a presentation given by Ricardo Pedro, Power Plant Monitoring Specialist, in November 2022.