In August 2019, the Finnish utility Fortum built the world’s first high-definition VR simulator at its Loviisa NPP in Uusimaa, Finland, for training its control room operators. Operator training along with design validations at NPPs can now be performed in an effective manner with the help of VR. Through VR simulator solutions, employers can decrease their workers’ exposure to dangerous conditions, and enhance workplace H&S. They are helping to restrict the nuclear workers’ exposure to various parts of a NPP. Considering the VR case studies mentioned below, we see that most of the power utilities and companies are utilising VR altogether for training purposes, with a strong focus on nuclear power plants (NPPs).
While Augmented Reality (AR) use cases extend into operations, VR use cases are almost exclusively focused on training, planning and customer education. Many VR devices manufacturing firms are also making huge investments in VR such as Google, Facebook, Sony, HTC, among others with VR headsets, and other devices being largely developed and experimented for numerous applications. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is working with major utilities such as Duke Energy, Consolidated Edison, EDF, Korea Electric Power Corporation and others on how VR can fit into the industry’s workforce. In this case, if a H&S issue occurs in real life, employees will have encountered a similar incident in the virtual world, and will be better equipped to respond to such situations. VR training systems, provided via, for example, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets, could help simulate real-world environment and dangerous conditions in the plant, like chemical spills, working at heights, along with confined spaces. It uses headsets or gloves fitted with sensors to simulate a user’s physical presence in a 3D environment. VR immerses the user in an artificial world, which has the illusion of reality. It aims to bring new value to the power industry.
Major utilities and power companies such as Duke Energy, Consolidated Edison, PG&E, National Grid Plc, Electricite de France SA (EDF), PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, General Electric Co (GE), Siemens, and Fortum are deploying VR technology into the industry’s workforce.Ī recent report ‘ Thematic Research: Virtual Reality in Power’ released by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, reveals that VR training could kick off in a big way. Employees can now be trained effectively and efficiently on how to manage and respond to such situations. VR headsets position the employee in a computer-simulated environment that imitates real-world conditions. Virtual reality (VR) technology can help the power industry to deliver workforce training and education in an immersive environment.
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