István Selek and Joni Vasara, founders of IQnow Oy, in partnership with PVO-Vesivoima, have developed one of the world’s most advanced turbine governors for hydropower. This breakthrough is the result of over seven years of close cooperation between industry and academia, where research expertise in control theory, modeling, and digital optimization has been translated into practical solutions for modern energy systems.
Beyond performance, the innovation also reduces computational demand and mechanical wear, ensuring cost efficiency and longer equipment lifetime. Proven in real-world operation across multiple power plants, the solution advanced to the patenting stage in 2024—marking a major milestone in hydropower innovation.
Our research specializes in advanced control theory, system dynamics, and energy systems optimization, with a strong emphasis on the integration of renewable energy and hydropower in hybrid power plants. By developing and applying rigorous mathematical models, we analyze system stability, optimize dynamic performance, and design control strategies that enhance flexibility and resilience.
Building on these foundations, we also incorporate machine intelligence methods—including data-driven modeling, predictive algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence—to complement traditional system-theoretic approaches. This integration improves real-time decision making and enhances performance.
Our most recent work centers on hybrid hydropower plants and their role in frequency containment reserve (FCR) provision. Related studies address challenges such as: