The demand for water has been rising persistently in the country. In this scenario, wastewater treatment can play a crucial role in meeting this demand. Recent years have witnessed an increase in interest in advanced wastewater treatment techniques. Water utilities are implementing new and innovative solutions to improve the effectiveness of their current wastewater treatment systems. This has encouraged technology providers and industry players to focus on devising new systems and technologies that can be adapted to meet the emerging requirements.
Currently, the wastewater treatment potential is vastly underutilised. Only 30 per cent of the wastewater generated in India is undergoing treatment. India still lacks in effective treatment of the sewage generated in its cities and in efficient operations and maintenance (O&M) of its sewage treatment plants (STPs).
However, a gradual shift is being witnessed in this area with a growing focus on improving sewage treatment. Government initiatives such as the Namami Gange Mission are aiming to accomplish the targets of pollution reduction, wastewater and solid waste treatment, and riverfront management. The government is also offering substantial opportunities for private players to enter the wastewater segment.
Meanwhile, in the city gas distribution (CGD) sector, digitalisation has become an important part of business processes, ranging from network planning, engineering, and operations and maintenance (O&M) to complete management of network assets. Oil and gas majors are deploying technologies such as drones, virtual twins and predictive analytics in a number of use cases. Compared to physical units, virtual twins offer the flexibility to dynamically adjust input parameters, enabling the generation of varying outputs. Another key development has been the use of robotic process automation.
Refineries too are adopting digital solutions for asset management. The deployment of digital technology in refinery infrastructure helps retain and communicate important information related to refinery assets at every stage of the project lifecycle, which can then be used for better O&M. Moreover, with the integration of 5G networking technology, the oil and gas industry is poised to witness a major transformation. The driving force behind Industry 5.0 is the incorporation of new technologies, notably intelligent automation and 5G communications, which can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of industrial connectivity.
However, ensuring cybersecurity to safeguard digital systems from cyberattacks is a significant challenge. CGD operators need to ensure that their risk management and response processes are prepared for a digitally controlled environment.
The power sector, similarly, is changing rapidly with technology advancements and evolving market dynamics. Various new technologies and business models are coming to the fore as India transitions to a greener tomorrow. With a growing focus on cost efficiency, technologies based on AI, ML and IoT hold significant potential for improving the management of power assets. They can help keep track of performance and equipment data, create digital twins, self-learn to predict faults and reduce project downtime. They can also assist in project conceptualisation and design based on past data and future estimates. While such technologies are already being employed to a limited extent in some power projects, there is a huge potential for scale-up. Tailored to the specific needs of utilities, AI, ML and IoT applications can be seamlessly incorporated across the entire value chain. While digitalisation is making systems and processes more connected, allowing improved network management and operations, it also necessitates enhanced cybersecurity, besides manpower training and capacity building for efficient uptake.
This issue of Smart Utilities discusses the technology adoption trends and strategies of gas utilities, the potential of compressed biogas, and the key benefits of integrating 5G technology with existing systems. It also throws light on the key initiatives for recycling and reusing treated wastewater, technological interventions for improving water network management, and the advancements in the wastewater sector. The power section of the magazine explores in greater detail the new and emerging technologies across the sector as well as the latest advancements in the areas of data centres and smart charging.