The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is taking a further step towards technological innovation with the development of its first digital twin, an advanced tool that will allow real-time monitoring and simulation of operations on its offshore platform from its land-based headquarters. This project reinforces PLOCAN’s commitment to sustainability and energy transformation.
In this case, the digital twin will replicate the green hydrogen generation plant that will be located on PLOCAN’s offshore platform.
This system will enable the monitoring of key variables such as energy performance, hydrogen storage, fuel consumption, and environmental conditions. To achieve this, it will use real-time data and artificial intelligence-based models, which will also allow for optimization of the plant’s operation, failure prevention, process improvement, and the ability to run simulations to adapt to future technological and energy demands.
“In this mode of operation, the system to be modeled will be simulated using AI and machine learning techniques, so that it is fed back with real operational data from the hydrogen plant, learns from them, and can predict the behavior of the system itself,” explained technologist María José Pérez.
PLOCAN’s offshore plant will produce green hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. This hydrogen will be used to meet the energy needs of the platform and its prototypes.
Among the features of PLOCAN’s digital twin are an alert system to detect anomalies, customizable simulations to test different configurations, and a predictive mode that optimizes operations using advanced machine learning techniques.
Thanks to this technology, PLOCAN will be able to ensure more efficient, safe, and sustainable operation of its ocean platform. Moreover, it is a flexible and customizable tool, enabling it to adapt to new renewable technologies incorporated into the marine test site. In this sense, it will facilitate the work of researchers and companies studying and testing their innovations through PLOCAN’s services and infrastructure.
By enabling virtual tests before physical implementation, costs and risks associated with experimentation in real environments will be reduced. Additionally, it will include advanced features such as a color-coded alert system for anomaly detection and interactive panels to facilitate its use.
“With this initiative, PLOCAN reaffirms its position as an international benchmark in scientific and technological innovation applied to the marine environment. The digital twin represents a key tool to advance towards a more sustainable future, where technology and respect for the environment go hand in hand,” said María José Pérez.
The offshore plant not only produces green hydrogen from renewable sources like wind and solar energy, but also validates its viability as an energy solution for marine environments.
This project is part of the strategic program “Renewable Energy and Hydrogen,” whose goal is to lead the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy model. It is financed through the Next Generation EU funds, the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain, and the Government of the Canary Islands. The offshore plant not only produces green hydrogen from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy, but also validates its viability as an energy solution for marine environments.
