Tokyo: Japanese energy firm Jera Co. unveiled Tuesday an efficient power plant management system utilizing cutting-edge digital technologies such as an industrial metaverse and generative artificial intelligence.

The joint firm between a Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. unit and Chubu Electric Power Co. will introduce the system to its Anegasaki thermal power plant in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, on a trial basis later this month.

Jera developed the Digital Power Plant system together with U.S. technology giant Microsoft Corp. under a strategic partnership deal they signed last month.

The system features Microsoft’s generative AI and digital twins integrated with an industrial metaverse as well as Jera’s operational know-how, enabling quick finding of solutions to problems and ensuring efficient plant management.

Specifically, the generative AI digs into past glitch cases and comes up with solutions in a second while plant staff are working with engineers in and outside Japan at a virtual plant created by the digital twin and metaverse technologies with a language translation function attached.

The digital plant management system is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of next March. It is expected to cut the Anegasaki plant’s cost by some 40 billion yen over the next 40 years, Jera said.

The company will consider selling the system after verifying it.

JIJI Press