The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has introduced its digital twin laboratory called PIXL or Powertech Innovation and eXperience Lab.
According to Meralco, PIXL will play an important role in the company’s efforts to futureproof its business operations and contribute to the advancement of the country’s energy industry.
PIXL is Meralco’s virtual world rendering studio and metaverse that uses real world data to create simulations for training and education.
The state-of-the-art facility features 10 short-throw high-definition projectors, a 360-degree projection wall, LED lights, and extended reality devices such as Microsoft HoloLens and Oculus VR headsets.
PIXL aims to drive the use of new technologies for the energy industry to achieve the country’s smart grid vision. Smart grid is the integration of innovative systems to the power grid for improved generation and distribution of electricity.
“The most important digital strategy we have is the digitalization of the grid. Making the grid smarter entails a lot of new investments in technology. We are looking to smart substations, smart meters, advanced metering infrastructure and advanced network infrastructure, all of which taken together would make the grid much smarter and more digital,” Meralco President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Ray C. Espinosa said.
PIXL can serve a variety of functions including technology scanning; proof of concept; prototype development; extended reality previews of different vital facilities such as substations and business centers; simulations of critical incident resolutions; distant learning; knowledge transfer; and remote support.
PIXL is also envisioned to serve as a venue for co-innovation initiatives with the academe, regulators, other electric cooperatives, and distribution utilities in the Philippines or even other countries.
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