Development of a Resilience Management Framework Adapted to Complex Asset Systems: Hydro-Québec Research Chair on Asset Management

Abstract

Complex asset systems are essential to the functioning of our society. They include but are not limited to: oil platforms, transportation networks, water and gas distribution systems, nuclear power plants, the stock exchange system, communication networks and electrical power utilities. Electrical power generation, transport and distribution utilities such as Hydro-Quebec (HQ) have significant asset portfolios. In every step of the chain of production, electrical utilities must know the condition, location and availability of their assets to maximize productivity, reduce service interruptions and ensure the safety of operations and users. When their assets are managed effectively, they can conduct monitoring, obtain vital information and stimulate performance to improve it. This integrated management, commonly known as asset management, allows them to fully exploit the potential of their assets and to convert asset management into a powerful competitive advantage. There are many asset management challenges for electrical utilities: infrastructure maintenance and updating, the obligation to adapt and prepare for all types of changes (standards, types of client, environmental, etc.), new market development, etc. Asset management is considered an efficient approach available to electrical utilities to make better investments in their assets. In this regard, R&D and innovation are crucial. For this reason, HQ, in partnership with UQTR and NSERC, developed and launched a research chair on asset management. The Chair’s research will be primarily focused on developing asset management concepts, optimization algorithms and generic models, as well as adapting and transferring results to HQ and other major Canadian electrical utilities. One of the unique features of this Chair is the development of a new integrated, up-to-date and comprehensive asset management paradigm. This paper introduces the background, the key issues and the detailed research proposal for this Chair. One of the leading research projects for this Chair, regarding the development of a resilience management framework, is presented. A resilience case study is presented as an example at the end of this paper.