Digital Guardian of Yakutia's Power Sector: IT Solutions Make Novolenskaya TPP Smarter
Import substitution in Russia's power sector continues to advance steadily. The Novolenskaya thermal power plant currently under construction in Yakutia will be equipped with a Kommercheskiy uzel ucheta gaza (Commercial Gas Metering Unit, KUUG) supplied by Russian company ENERGAZ. The digital system is designed to monitor not only fuel consumption volumes but also the quality characteristics of the gas delivered to the plant.
The KUUG supplied by ENERGAZ is a sophisticated, fully automated system that will be installed at the connection point between Novolenskaya TPP and the gas transmission network. The unit has a throughput capacity of 178,160 normal cubic meters per hour. However, the KUUG is far more than a collection of gas meters. At this stage, natural gas passes through a series of specialized filters that remove mechanical impurities. An analytical package incorporating gas chromatographs, moisture analyzers, and oxygen analyzers then determines the precise characteristics of the incoming fuel, including its calorific value. Ultrasonic flow meters measure gas volumes with an error margin of less than 1%. This level of accuracy is particularly important because gas volume varies with temperature, and all of these parameters are incorporated into consumption calculations.
The KUUG operates automatically. Its control system manages process operations, responds independently to emergency and abnormal situations, processes incoming data, visualizes results, and transfers information to the next level of the plant's automated process control system. This combination of microprocessors, controllers, and software also helps optimize turbine management at the thermal power plant.
For end users, deploying systems of this type can improve the reliability of power supply while providing more accurate accounting of plant operating costs, factors that ultimately influence electricity tariffs.
From Sensors to Big Data: The Architecture of Digital Metering
The deployment of the ENERGAZ KUUG is more than a technical milestone in the construction of a new thermal power station. It demonstrates how digital technologies are being integrated across every stage of power-sector development. Looking ahead, data collected from the metering unit could support the creation of a digital twin of the facility, enabling the use of neural-network technologies and predictive analytics to manage plant operations.
At the national level, the project illustrates how Russia is systematically introducing digital technologies across the economy. Solutions of this kind could also be supplied to friendly international markets after proving their effectiveness in demanding Russian climatic conditions.
From Import Substitution to Technological Sovereignty
The use of Russian-developed technologies in the construction of Novolenskaya TPP reflects a broader trend that has gathered momentum across the fuel and energy sector in recent years. Today, a growing number of domestic manufacturers offer advanced ultrasonic gas meters and intelligent metering systems. Alongside ENERGAZ, companies such as Tekhnomer, RASKO Gazelektronika, AKSITEKH, and several others hold significant positions in this market.
Russia is actively replacing mechanical meters with intelligent metering systems. Developers continue to invest heavily in research and development as well as capital projects. Together, these efforts are gradually reducing reliance on imported technologies and supporting full technological sovereignty across the fuel and energy sector.
Strategic Foundation for the Development of Eastern Siberia
The extensive use of Russian-developed technologies in projects such as Novolenskaya TPP has implications that extend well beyond a single facility. With a planned capacity of 550MW, the station is not merely a local source of electricity. It is expected to support the continued expansion of Russian Railways' Eastern Polygon network, the industrial development of the Sukhoy Log deposit, and a range of other major projects.
In this context, the integration of digital control systems becomes the foundation that supports the efficient operation of the region's broader industrial ecosystem.
Going forward, similar IT solutions are likely to be deployed more widely both at newly built facilities and during the modernization of existing power stations, helping transform Russia's power sector into an increasingly intelligent and data-driven industry.
