Thai power agency trialing AI platform from IBM partner.

Power is going hi-tech in Thailand. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is testing an artificial intelligence platform developed by an IBM partner with the goal of increasing energy efficiency, reducing costs and preparing its systems for renewable power.

The “Maximo Platform” created by Triple Dot Consulting under the aegis of America tech firm IBM will make EGAT’s power supply management smarter. “It will help the agency plan and deal with weather patterns in advance,” said Nophol Phun-ngun, Director of EGAT’s Power Plant Asset Management Division.

EGAT’s willingness to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies represents a sea change in the agency’s approach. As the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration has made technological advancement a national priority, EGAT has evolved with over time.

Patama Chantaruck, Managing Director of IBM Thailand, said that “the Maximo Platform’s advanced AI and analytics technology helps operators gain essential insights of work and increases return on investment.”

EGAT is trialing the software. Should all go well, the agency is expecting to go live with the platform across its systems in April.

The ability to plan for weather patterns in advance would be an essential component in EGAT’s plans to accelerate its shift towards more renewable energy sources, especially wind and solar power.

Nophol said that the Maximo Platform helped EGAT smoothly operate jobs from inventory and supply management to maintenance operations. He said it would reduce work complexity, avoid redundancy, and help save money allocated for new equipment purchases by 3 to 5 percent.

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