The 24% maintenance cost reduction is just the beginning

After working with energy companies across Nordic, German, and Australian markets for over a decade, I've learned that successful digital transformation is not only about the technology itself. More importantly, it's about understanding when an industry is ready for fundamental change.

A new study from Energiforsk has just provided compelling evidence that this moment has arrived for maintenance strategies in the European energy sector.

The research, involving major players like Vattenfall, Ellevio, and Svenska kraftnät, demonstrates that Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) can reduce annual maintenance costs by up to 24% while improving operational reliability. But as someone who has guided numerous energy companies through digital transformation journeys, I can tell you the real story is more nuanced – and more exciting.

The Energiforsk study used Västerbergslagens Elnät's 390 critical components to compare three maintenance approaches:

Traditional 5-year scheduled maintenance:

478,193 SEK/year

Risk-based RCM approach:

385,735 SEK/year (-19%)

Condition-based without consequence assessment:

365,197 SEK/year (-24%)

While the cost savings grab attention, what fascinates me as a business leader is what this reveals about where the energy industry stands today. The fact that 52% of components could remain on 5-year intervals, with significant opportunities for extension, tells me we're not talking about revolutionary change – we're talking about intelligent optimization.

This is exactly the kind of pragmatic, risk-minimized transformation that we've been advocating for years.

In our work connecting over 3,200 substations across Europe and Australia, we've seen that successful RCM implementation faces three consistent challenges that go far beyond the technical methodology:

1. The data infrastructure gap

The Energiforsk study analyzed 16,000 data points across 390 components – that's just the baseline for effective RCM. Most utilities we meet have excellent historical maintenance records but struggle with the real-time condition monitoring that makes RCM truly powerful.

What I've learned is that you can't retrofit data-driven decision making onto legacy systems. You need an integrated approach from sensor to work order.

2. Organizational readiness for variable workloads

The research shows annual cost variations even with optimized scheduling. In my experience, this is where many RCM initiatives stumble. Maintenance teams are comfortable with predictable schedules. Moving to risk-based intervals requires not just new tools, but new ways of thinking about resource allocation.

At Gomero, we've found that the most successful implementations happen gradually. Start small, demonstrate value, then scale. This is why our SIPP technology is designed for incremental deployment rather than big-bang transformations.

3. The strategic vision beyond cost savings

While 19-24% cost reduction is compelling, the transformational value of RCM lies elsewhere. I've seen utilities use predictive insights to completely reimagine their redundancy strategies, optimize capital deployment, and even reshape their service offerings.

The energy transition demands this kind of strategic agility. As we electrify transport, integrate renewables, and build smart grids, the old "fix it when it breaks" mentality simply won't scale.

The Energiforsk research provides validation for what we've been seeing in the market: the technology for predictive maintenance has matured, the business case is clear, and early adopters are pulling ahead.

But here's what the study doesn't address – and what I believe separates successful implementations from failed pilots:

Integration is everything.

The 24% cost savings assume you can actually execute on the optimized maintenance schedules. In practice, this requires seamless integration between condition monitoring, risk assessment, work planning, and field execution. This is why we built SIPP as an ecosystem rather than a point to point solution.

Scalability determines long-term value.

Starting with 390 components is fine for a proof of concept. But the real value emerges when you can apply these insights across thousands of assets, multiple markets, and diverse operating conditions. Our experience across Nordic, German, and Australian markets has taught us that successful platforms must be both locally adapted and globally scalable.

Partnership accelerates adoption.

The most successful RCM implementations we've supported happen when technology providers become true strategic partners. This means not just delivering hardware and software, but actively supporting the organizational change required for data-driven maintenance.

What excites me most about the Energiforsk study is that it represents a tipping point. When industry associations are commissioning research on RCM economics, when major utilities are publicly sharing results, when the business case moves from theoretical to proven – that's when markets transform.

We're seeing this momentum globally. Essential Energy and Western Power in Australia have recently invested in our latest SIPP technology specifically to enable AI-based maintenance decisions. Our partnership with Ellevio continues to deepen, with their 20 million SEK investment in technology upgrades demonstrating the long-term value of predictive maintenance platforms.

But the real opportunity isn't just about better maintenance – it's about building the foundation for the intelligent grid infrastructure that the energy transition demands.

If you're considering RCM implementation, the Energiforsk research provides valuable benchmarks. But as someone who has guided dozens of energy companies through digital transformation, I'd encourage you to think beyond the immediate cost savings.

The right approach to RCM creates a platform for continuous innovation. It gives you the data infrastructure to optimize not just maintenance, but asset deployment, grid planning, and customer service. It positions your organization to be a leader in the energy transition rather than a follower.

The question isn't whether RCM works – the Energiforsk study has settled that. The question is whether your organization is ready to capture its full strategic potential.

At Gomero, our role as a strategic partner is to make that transformation as smooth, risk-minimized, and value-creating as possible. Because ultimately, we're not just optimizing maintenance schedules – we're building the foundation for tomorrow's sustainable energy systems.