Agentic AI for Power Utility Autonomy
Executive Summary
Agentic Operations
A major power generation company operating a mix of thermal, hydro, and solar assets partnered with Synaptron to implement a next-generation Agentic AI platform for operational decision automation. The platform was designed to interpret real-time control system signals, autonomously execute standard operating procedures (SOPs), and reduce incident resolution time with built-in human-in-the-loop (HITL) validation.
Delivered by Synaptron’s team of AI architects, OT specialists, and control engineers, the project achieved:
90%+ anomaly classification accuracy across 500+ plant events
35% reduction in mean time to resolution (MTTR) for non-critical but high-frequency issues
Automated execution of over 120 SOPs with integrated safety gates
Complete audit trail for all agent-triggered actions and operator responses
This solution enabled semi-autonomous plant operations, improved reliability, and offloaded cognitive burden from human operators.
Challenge
Reactive Incident Management and Inconsistent SOP Execution Across Plants
The client operated across multiple generating units and faced operational inefficiencies:
Alarm Overload with Limited Contextualization
High volume of SCADA/DCS alarms per shift with limited contextual prioritization
Manual Alert Interpretation Causing Inconsistent SOP Execution
Operators manually interpreted alerts, leading to variable SOP execution across shifts and locations
Delayed Response to Known Operational Anomalies
Delayed first response to known anomalies (e.g., cooling tower load surge, condenser vacuum drop)
No Centralized Visibility into SOP Compliance
Lack of centralized oversight into whether SOPs were followed correctly, or executed at all
Undocumented Actions Creating Safety and Audit Risks
Safety and audit risk due to undocumented interventions during peak load conditions or grid variation events
They needed a scalable, AI-driven decision automation system that could continuously monitor OT signals, recommend or initiate action, and adapt to dynamic plant behavior—without bypassing safety or human oversight.
Solution
Agentic AI Platform with Autonomous Event-to-Action Workflows and HITL Control
Synaptron engineered and deployed a containerized Agentic AI platform, designed to run on-premise and at the edge of SCADA infrastructure. Each agent was purpose-built to monitor, reason, and act within its assigned plant zone or system.
Technical Architecture & Modules:
OT Event Listener and Signal Processor
- Integrated with OPC-UA and Modbus streams from DCS, historian, and SCADA systems
- Parsed real-time data points such as frequency, pressure, vibration, fault codes, and analog sensor deviations
- Converted signal patterns into digital events for agent evaluation
Agent Library – AI-Powered Event Classification
- Developed and trained 80+ specialized agents (e.g., “Condenser Pressure Agent,” “Coal Feeder Jam Agent,” “Grid Sync Agent”)
- Used decision tree classifiers and time-series ML models to identify cause-impact mappings from historical alarm and event logs
- Confidence scoring for every event classification, with fallbacks for operator approval when confidence < threshold
SOP Automation Engine
- Embedded plant-validated SOP sequences as executable logic flows (e.g., valve closure, cooling bypass, auxiliary activation, interlock pause)
- Timers, checks, and logical gates ensured correct sequence execution based on plant safety policies
- Integrated with maintenance ticketing for downstream intervention logging
Human-in-the-Loop Control Console
- Provided shift leads and control room engineers with real-time agent recommendations and “Approve / Override / Explain” options
- Included role-based access control, incident notes, and escalation triggers for unattended anomalies
Audit & Analytics Dashboard
- Visual interface showing incidents by agent, action outcomes, SOP compliance scores, and RCA history
- Data export available for internal audit, safety reviews, and regulatory reporting
Outcome
Intelligent Decision Automation with Human-Governed Autonomy
In the first 120 days post go-live, the platform delivered measurable improvements:
- 90%+ Accuracy in Anomaly Detection & Classification for common and recurring operational issues
- 35% Reduction in MTTR for low- and mid-criticality anomalies like feed pressure drops, inverter faults, and cooling system alerts
- Consistent SOP Execution Compliance across shifts and sites — 97% adherence tracked via the agent logs
- Reduced Operator Workload, with 60% of shift-level event decisions now AI-assisted or auto-triggered
- Improved Incident Documentation with every action digitally logged, timestamped, and traceable to its triggering event and approving role
Control room supervisors reported improved response consistency, better shift handover clarity, and fewer missed escalation windows.
Future
Scaling Agentic AI Across Assets and Integrating Predictive Intelligence
Encouraged by field success, Synaptron is now supporting the client on:
- Deploying agents to hydro and solar zones with custom models for water flow variation, inverter strings, and synchronization events
- Integrating predictive analytics to pre-empt likely failure scenarios and recommend pre-emptive SOPs
- Voice-interface agents for remote field engineers to interact with AI recommendations during night shifts
- Federated training across sites to refine agent behavior without centralizing raw data
- Digital Twin Simulations to validate new SOP flows and agent behaviors before deployment in live control systems