Innovation is woven into the very fabric of SCP
The Canal de Provence infrastructure was a revolutionary undertaking for its time, and remains so today. It was designed to prevent permanent discharge at its outlets, and today all of the water flowing through it is consumed, with not a drop going to waste.
Such remarkable efficiency is possible thanks to the use of the dynamic regulation principle: numerous sensors positioned all along the facilities analyse water levels and other measurements in real time, and the equipment is adjusted accordingly, thus ensuring that water extraction and transportation is always kept to the minimum required level.
The system is managed automatically from the Remote Control Centre at SCP’s headquarters in Le Tholonet, and a team of engineers and technicians is on hand 24/7 in order to respond to any irregularities or alarm signals.
This technology, combined with the constant upkeep of our distribution canals, means that over 85% of extracted resources are invoiced to our customers, a truly impressive achievement for such an extensive water transportation and distribution infrastructure.
Innovating to prepare for the future
Every year, SCP implements new plans in harmony with its concession-related operations, engineering and service-oriented activities, and economic environment. Its strategy is anchored in three main pillars:
- Internal projects aimed at developing its working methods, tools, and technical or non-technical solutions, in order to enhance the company’s economic, environmental and social performance
- Collaborative projects, in the capacity of either manager or contributor. Whether SCP itself is the driving force behind an innovation, or has been asked to join a partnership, the company always strives to contribute added value and bring solid results to the projects in which it is involved
- Support for local start-ups working on water-related projects, by providing such companies with operational sites on which they can conduct experiments or even install demonstrators, and offering them technical support if required
The company’s strategy also revolves around five annual targets. Those set out for the year 2019 are listed below:
- Improving and revamping the water chain and its management: this encompasses resources, transportation, distribution networks and connected private networks
- Developing professional tools and methods to improve performance, safety, teamwork and communication
- Developing and testing new systems to save energy and use more renewable energy
- Devising and creating new products or services for our customers
- Innovating freely to bring « added value » to SCP
Taking innovation further by sharing in partnerships !
SCP’s contributions to innovation are in perfect harmony with its concession-related hydraulic development vocation, its engineering and service activities, and its economic environment.
WADI
The WADI project aims to provide an altogether new airborne water leak detection service, using manned and unmanned aircraft. Launched in 2016, the project involves twelve different European partners. SCP’s distribution networks served as a pilot site to perform configuration tests for hyper spectral on-board cameras, with a view to locating potential leaks on pipes.
Connected irrigation: efficient and economical
Launched in 2016, the Smart Irrigation project seeks to develop a connected irrigation service. In the long term, it will allow our customers to:
- Monitor and control the running of their irrigation networks
- Access information from connected measuring devices
- Receive general or specific information on irrigation. In partnership with a start-up company called Fruition Sciences, a new SCP-AgriDATA web service was launched in 2017, making it possible to fine-tune irrigation in order to save water whilst ensuring healthy crop growth.
