Voith has completed the first deployment of its Hydro Pocket solution in Japan at the Ohsawagawa hydropower station in Yamagata Prefecture. The digital platform, commissioned in early March, allows for real-time remote monitoring and data analysis, marking a significant upgrade from the station’s previous closed-circuit monitoring system.
The pilot project was carried out in partnership with Fuji Electric, which provided technical support and served as the local point of contact for the customer, the Yamagata Prefecture government.
“The implementation of the Hydro Pocket system has revolutionized our operations by providing real-time insights and supporting a more data-driven approach. This has significantly improved our efficiency and paves the way for future predictive analysis,” a Yamagata Prefecture government representative said. “We now see the value of having more data and insights coming from our plant. Therefore, we are exploring further with Voith and Fuji Electric to add more sensors and increase the duration of our Hydro Pocket data storage.”
The Hydro Pocket system provides a cloud-based dashboard in Japanese, enabling plant operators to monitor and manage energy production, operational status, and grid connectivity from common digital devices. It also offers historical trend data, automated reporting, and event tracking.
“Key benefits include faster decision-making, increased performance and proactive issue resolution,” said Dirk Fuchs, Head of HyService Digital & Automation at Voith Hydro. “Voith also provides additional insights and analysis with expert teams.”
Despite difficult access conditions during winter months, the successful deployment sets the stage for further digital modernization of regional hydropower assets.
“We’re proud to see Hydro Pocket enter the Japanese market and support critical infrastructure in its digital transformation,” said Sunil Pandiri, Chief Service Officer at Voith Hydro. “With this first reference project in Japan, we are able to strengthen our position as a trusted partner for hydropower digitalization and demonstrate the value of data-driven services for long-term operational success.”
