State-owned power utility Eskom’s Kusile power station received top honours at global infrastructure software developer Bentley Systems’ 2013 Be Inspired awards, which took place at the Hilton Metropole, in London, from October 29 to 31.

The 4 800 MW power station, which is currently under construction in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, took first prize in the Innovation in Power Generation category for its virtual three-dimensional (3D) plant simulator, a project spearheaded by Eskom Group Technology engineering and system integration chief technologist Riekie Swanepoel, who was in London to accept the prize on behalf of her team.

“This is a culmination of two years of hard work that came together and it wouldn’t have been possible without Team Kusile,” said Swanepoel, who told Engineering News that she could not wait to get back to South Africa to receive feedback from her peers and colleagues at Eskom.

“I’m looking forward to taking home the silverware,” she added.

The Innovation in Power Generation category recognised finalists that excelled in improving efficiency, reducing costs and delivering better customer service, while adding new generation capacity and finding innovative ways to produce electricity cleanly and sustainably.

Swanepoel and her team started developing the virtual 3D plant simulator when the planned construction on the $14-billion power station was fast-tracked from ten to eight years.

Eskom and engineering partner Group Technology prototyped 3D visualisation and simulation technologies to create a virtual 3D visualisation and simulation for use in the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the plant, which comprises six 800 MW power generation units and flue gas desulphurisation technology.

The multicontractor engineering, procurement and construction project team was challenged to integrate complex layout designs and 3D model submissions, which was achieved using solutions supplied by Bentley.

MicroStation – a software application that enables immersive interaction with 3D models and two-dimensional designs to produce deliverables like precise drawings, information-rich 3D portable format documents and 3D plots – enabled the merger of models in various formats, as well as fast and efficient checking for construction interferences.

MicroStation was also used to develop and integrate the 3D visualisation of the model. The simulator was deployed to develop operating procedures, training sequences and commissioning information packs.

Jury members commended Eskom’s commitment to using 3D models, which they said “delivered a visionary approach to ensuring the power station delivers maximum availability for this power-starved country”.

Moreover, they highlighted the simulator’s ability to prepare Eskom’s future workforce “to be safe and productive” with advanced 3D modelling from Bentley, which integrated avatar, or gaming, technology to cover every aspect of O&M.

Also honoured were engineering information technology company Graphic Engineering Solutions & Services and professional spatial and engineering solutions and service provider African Consulting Surveyors, which were shortlisted as finalists for their contribution to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s Depot Modernisation Project.