TRUSTIFAI and TÜV AUSTRIA Complete Successful AI Inspection for Global Hydro

Innovative AI System for Real-Time Detection of Sediment Wear Supports Sustainable Hydropower

Hagenberg (pts017/14.07.2026/12:30)

TRUSTIFAI GmbH, Austria's testing and certification hub for artificial intelligence, has in collaboration with TÜV AUSTRIA successfully completed the inspection of an innovative AI system developed by Global Hydro Energy GmbH. The system enables real-time detection and quantification of sediment-induced turbine wear in hydropower plants and represents an important step toward safe, trustworthy, and sustainable use of artificial intelligence in the energy sector.

The system developed by Global Hydro is based on the SediSense digital solution and integrates AI-powered analyses within the HydroxOptimize platform. The information obtained can be visualized via HydroxConnect and used for operational management. Using structure-borne acoustic sensors mounted on the outside of the turbine casing together with machine-learning algorithms, the system detects and evaluates wear directly on the turbine. This provides power plant operators with valuable information for predictive maintenance and more efficient plant operation.

Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change

Climate change is significantly altering the conditions for hydropower. Melting glaciers and more frequent extreme weather events are leading to changes in water flow and increased sediment loads in rivers. The consequences are increased wear and tear on turbines, rising maintenance costs, and potential losses in power generation.

With the new AI-based solution, sediment loads can be detected directly at the turbine and in real time for the first time. This makes it possible to plan maintenance work more effectively and extend the service lifetime of plant components.

Trustworthy AI Through Independent Inspection

As part of the inspection, TRUSTIFAI evaluated the AI system in terms of, among other things, its technical performance, the definition of the scope of application, data quality, governance processes, and the planned measures for human oversight and risk minimization.

Particular attention was paid to the secure integration of AI into the operational process. The system does not make autonomous control decisions but supports operators by providing recommendations for action. In addition, mechanisms are in place to flag uncertain predictions and automatically activate a defined fallback mode in the event of missing or erroneous input data.

"The successful completion of this inspection demonstrates how trustworthy AI can be implemented in critical industrial applications. Innovative technologies are particularly effective when transparency, reliability, and technical robustness are taken into account from the very beginning," says Andreas Gruber, CEO of TRUSTIFAI.

Promoting Sustainable Innovation

The project was supported as part of the "aws AI Adoption: Green" funding program. The program's goal is to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable innovations.

The solution developed makes a concrete contribution to the goals of the European Green Deal: By extending the service lifetime of turbines, reducing

maintenance requirements, and more efficient operations, resources are conserved and the economic viability of sustainable energy generation is strengthened.

"With SediSense, we're bringing artificial intelligence directly into power plant operations. For the first time, operators receive reliable information about sediment-related wear in real time, enabling them to plan maintenance measures in a targeted manner, increase plant availability and sustainably extend the service life of their turbines. The successful TRUSTIFAI inspection confirms our commitment to developing innovative AI solutions that are not only powerful but also transparent and trustworthy," emphasizes Thomas Stütz, Head of Digital Solutions at Global Hydro.

Strengthening Austria as a Hub for Innovation

The project highlights the importance of collaboration between industry, research, and independent testing agencies for the successful introduction of AI

systems in safety- and economically critical application areas. With SediSense, we're bringing artificial intelligence directly into power plant operations. For the first time, operators receive reliable information about sediment-induced wear in real time, enabling them to plan targeted maintenance measures, increase plant availability, and sustainably extend the service lifetime of their turbines. The successful

TRUSTIFAI inspection confirms our commitment to developing innovative AI solutions that are not only powerful but also transparent and trustworthy.

About TRUSTIFAI
TRUSTIFAI GmbH is the Austrian testing and certification hub for artificial intelligence and a joint venture between TÜV AUSTRIA and Software Competence Center Hagenberg (SCCH). The company supports organizations in development, testing, inspection, and certification of trustworthy, secure, and compliant AI systems.

About Global Hydro
Global Hydro is an internationally active provider of water-to-wire hydropower solutions and supports customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their plants—from the planning and delivery of electromechanical equipment to digital solutions, automation, retrofits, and service. With its Digital Solutions, Global Hydro helps operators continuously improve the efficiency, availability, and sustainability of their hydropower plants.

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