Smart grid technology for distribution grid operators

Intelligent
Grid Platform

The digital hub for the future of power grid management

Digital and automated handling of all processes related to the integration of new distributed generators, battery storage and consumers into the power grid.

A new category of Smart Grid software

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central system for all grid-relevant data
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faster handling of technical processes
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lower costs compared to today's process

The energy transition poses new challenges for grid operators

Today, grid operators often manage grid-related data in various isolated systems (e.g. GIS, ERP system, control system). However, there is no central and validated power grid model that permanently combines all data. There is little transparency about free grid capacities, and manual input is necessary for many work steps, e.g. to merge and validate data. This makes many processes time-consuming and error-prone.

Smart grid technology as solution

The Intelligent Grid Platform is a solution to this challenge: a smart grid technology platform that unites all grid data and allows to digitalize and automate all processes related to grid impact study, short- as well as long-term grid planning, and grid monitoring:

Automate all important steps of the grid connection process: Transferring of the application data, identification of suitable points of connection, capacity reservation for new connections, and more – all features in one tool
Design scenarios for future supply requirements and evaluate the actual effects on your grid. Carry out your operational and strategic grid planning quickly and efficiently.
Combine all your grid data into a complete power grid model and use it to obtain detailed, real-time insights into your grids – for higher grid transparency and more accurate grid forecasting.

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The Grid Hub as the basis

The Grid Hub is the heart of the Intelligent Grid Platform. Here, all grid-relevant data is bundled in one place and combined to form a complete power grid model. Grid topology, equipment data, supply task – all information from the primary substation to the end customer is represented in one model.

You can flexibly utilize all data and information for a variety of purposes. You can use the Intelligent Grid Platform’s tailor-made apps for your grid planning and operation management processes. Or export data and results via various interfaces and APIs in order to flexibly use them for your own processes or those of partners and customers.

Smart Grid Software – Datenintegration auf Bildschirm

How are our power grid models created?

Our data engineering team develops tailor-made interfaces to all relevant data silos of our customers, e.g. GIS, ERP or MDM. Data and information from different systems are combined using special matching algorithms. High data quality is a prerequisite for successful process digitization. This is why all data is checked for completeness, plausibility and consistency. Special repair routines resolve typical data quality issues immediately and automatically.

Our interfaces allow you to permanently monitor all source systems. All data changes are automatically recognized and continuously transferred to our database.

The power grid model in the Intelligent Grid Platform is always up to date

This means that a validated and up-to-date power grid model is always available for all voltage levels – without any manual effort on the grid operator’s part.

Application areas of
the Intelligent Grid Platform

Our applications support your most important processes in the areas of grid connection, grid planning and operation management. End-to-end in one system and tailored to your needs.

Grid Connection

Automate processes for the integration of new distributed energy ressources and consumers

More about Grid Connection

Grid Planning

Plan your grid for the future and evaluate the effects of grid expansion measures and changing supply tasks

More about Grid Planning

Operation Management

Use your monitoring devices for live grid transparency and optimizing your operation management

More about Operation Management

Contact us

Do you have any questions about our smart grid solutions? We look forward to meeting you and answering questions about our product and our company.

Smart Grids FAQs

To put it very simply, the smart grid concept refers to various measures and tools around the physical power grid that help gain a comprehensive overview of the grid and its ecosystem, thus ensuring a reliable transport of electricity from all generation sources, centralized as well as decentralized, and allowing the two-way electricity flow between the grids and prosumers.

From this perspective, the “smart” element is rather about better ways for data collection, communication and analysis than about the advanced intelligence of the power grid per se. There are other interpretations of the smart grid concept as well. Most of these, however, refer to the grid as an independent, autonomous entity that is able to perform various actions on its own, which is currently not the case yet, that is why one should read such interpretations with a certain level of scrutiny.

Several factors lead to the rising need for smarter grids. First, the grid ecosystem is becoming increasingly crowded and interconnected. It’s not only about the grids and their assets, but also about numerous decentralized power generation and consumption sources – rooftop solar systems, heat pumps, e-chargers, etc. Therefore, in order to understand, for example, where grid reinforcement or expansion measure are needed the most, it’s imperative to have a full picture of the grid and all the elements that influence its state.

Secondly, increasing staff shortages call for more process automation and transparency into the grid in order to free up resources by reducing the amount of manual tasks and support the less-experienced young generation of grid operators. This is possible only through higher levels of digitalization of the physical grid and the implementation of highly accurate power grid models that react to changes in real-time.

Data collection is the cornerstone of the smart grid concept. Therefore, equipping the grids and their assets with sensors, monitoring, and communication technologies is the first step to enabling smart grids. At the level of distribution grids, particular focus lies on automation of substations, feeder and transformers, and on the rollout of smart meters that provide more visibility into the electricity consumption behavior on the consumers’ side.

Furthermore, grid operators will require intelligent tools to make sense of all that data. Information, however rich, is of little use if it’s sitting in silos. Therefore, grid digital twins are seen as the second essential element of smart grids, particularly at the distribution level. Grid digital twins help combine process and environmental data, putting the gained insights into context. Compared to traditional simulations, they update themselves dynamically and as a direct, real-time response to various grid events.

At the low-voltage level in particular, the issue of insufficient visibility into the grid ecosystem is one of the major limiting factors for reliable grid management and both operational and strategic grid planning. Since the smart grid technology enable a holistic view of the entire grid and its components such as PV systems, heat pumps, wallboxes, and e-chargers, the value proposition of smart grids extend from better grid reliability over improved operational efficiency to data-driven grid development.

Particularly in the case of the latter, a better understanding of where grid expansion and modernization measures are needed most, or where grid congestion can be alleviated through other measures, provides a reliable basis for investment planning.

Intelligent Grid Platform