SMIGHT

For the first time, a joint study by SMIGHT and the HORIZONTE Group analyzes the most economical strategy for implementing Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG). Based on the VDE FNN recommendation, various strategies for determining the network status were compared: from pure calculation via intelligent metering systems (iMSys) to direct measurement in local network stations. The result: the differences in total costs are considerable, and the use of station measurement technology makes the most economic sense in almost all scenarios. A purely iMSys-based approach, on the other hand, can lead to a fourfold increase in costs.

Distribution network operators are faced with the challenge of implementing the requirements of Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG) as economically as possible. Although the legal framework has been established, there has been no objective, comprehensive cost analysis of the various implementation options to date. Many network operators are therefore wondering which strategy makes economic sense and is best suited to their network.

Assessment premises of the study

For the economic analysis, a distribution network operator was modeled over a period of eight years: with 1,000 local network stations, seven outputs per station, and a total of 210,000 metering points.

Both supporting data from operating resources and minute-by-minute iMSys data are required for congestion detection. According to the VDE FNN recommendation, the more measurement data available directly from local network stations, the less cost-intensive TAF-10 data from smart metering systems needs to be provided additionally.

The economic optimum is therefore determined by the interaction between the investment and operating costs of the station measurement technology on the one hand and the running costs for the provision and processing of TAF-10 data on the other.

Results of the analysis

The analysis shows significant cost differences between the scenarios examined (Fig. 1). This is particularly evident in the example of a radial network: if outgoing measurements with TAF-10 data from 15 percent of the measuring points are combined for bottleneck detection, the total costs over 8 years amount to around 13 million euros. A completely iMSys-based approach, on the other hand, increases the costs to around €49 million (Fig. 2).

All three network types defined by FNN were examined: radial networks, meshed and closely meshed structures. The results show a largely consistent picture. Only in closely meshed networks does the actual mandatory rollout rate of iMSys determine economic efficiency. If the rate falls below 30 percent, station measurement is clearly preferable here as well.

Conclusion

The study clearly shows that the use of measurement technology in local network stations is the most economically viable option in most scenarios. A purely iMSys-based approach can result in costs that are up to four times higher in some cases, despite the mandatory rollout.

“Since measurement technology is required for §14a anyway, it is only logical to follow option 2 of the VDE FNN recommendation and first identify bottlenecks through measurements,” recommends Oliver Deuschle, Managing Director of SMIGHT GmbH.
In addition, station measurement technology allows the network status to be determined more quickly than with an approach based heavily on iMSys, as fewer operating resources are affected and these are directly accessible to the network operator.

“Station measurement technology not only enables cost-effective implementation of Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG), but also generates reliable data for grid operation, planning, and future applications,” adds Tobias Linnenberg, manager at the HORIZONTE Group. “Station measurement technology is therefore indispensable for cost-optimized load management in accordance with Section 14a EnWG – a result that, I must admit, surprised me somewhat in its clarity.”

Lüsen, South Tyrol, 18.09.2025 – The E-Werk Lüsen Cooperative is taking new steps to make its power grid fit for the energy transition. Together with SMIGHT GmbH and the project partner Psaier.energies GmbH, the company is launching a pilot project for intelligent grid monitoring. The aim is to identify the increasing challenges arising from the expansion of renewable energies in the rural distribution grid at an early stage and to take targeted action.

The E-Werk Lüsen Cooperative currently supplies around 531 households and 223 commercial customers in the municipal area of Lüsen (Autonomous Province of Bolzano). The strong growth of photovoltaic systems on the roofs of the residents is leading to rising demands on grid stability. Despite network expansions already carried out, the cooperative sees a need for action to avoid future bottlenecks.

As part of the project, five local network stations have been equipped with modern SMIGHT measurement technology. Over several weeks, the grid data will now be collected and evaluated in the SMIGHT IQ Cockpit. The insights gained from this will make it possible to identify critical points in the grid at an early stage and to plan investments on a solid data basis.

“We chose SMIGHT because we expect more transparency about our grid from the precise measurement data – also in comparison with the existing smart meter data. After the demonstrator, we want to use this basis to implement further targeted measures in order to ensure security of supply in the long term,” explains Valentin Kaser, Teamleader Consultant Services at Psaier.energies.

With the project, E-Werk Lüsen is strengthening its role as a pioneer for sustainable and secure energy supply in the region.

SMIGHT GmbH and advalju GmbH & Co. KG jointly demonstrate the successful implementation of §14a EnWG-compliant control in the low-voltage grid. Starting with the SMIGHT IQ Copilot load management software and advalju’s CLS management system, the entire active chain – from the grid operator to the controllable consumer – was tested under real conditions. Both companies presented this milestone live with an electric car at the Smart Energy Dialogue, an event organized by Theben.

In addition to the well-known IoT solution for measurement data acquisition and grid monitoring, SMIGHT also offers a solution for preventive and grid-friendly control: The SMIGHT IQ Copilot enables grid operators to intelligently control consumers at low-voltage level – tailored to the requirements of §14a EnWG.

Technical implementation: tried and tested
SMIGHT and advalju were able to demonstrate the complete chain of action for the implementation of §14a EnWG as part of the Smart Energy Dialogue, an event organized by Theben Smart Energy. The control command is transmitted from the SMIGHT IQ Copilot via the CLS management to the Theben Smart Meter Gateway CONEXA with an attached value-added module as a certified control unit. From there, the control command is transferred via EEBUS to a home energy management system, which dims the wallbox in the property continuously. Communication between the backend systems is encrypted using the BDEW Web API. The control process is then documented via the SMIGHT IQ Copilot in accordance with the specifications of the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and VDE FNN. This means that the solution meets current regulatory and ISMS requirements and can be quickly adapted to future requirements if necessary.

System integration
Thanks to the use of standard interfaces (BDEW API), the integration and interaction of the systems was quick and straightforward. Steffen Hornung, Managing Director of advalju, explains: “The respective technical experts connected the systems within a few hours. Internal end-to-end tests then took place, including the connected electric car. This meant that the showcase, which is actually a live demonstrator, was ready for use without any major effort.”

Control in the low-voltage grid – flexible, secure and interoperable
Even before the live demonstration with advalju, SMIGHT was able to prove its practical suitability at E-world: There, the control process was demonstrated with another market competitor.
The SMIGHT solution is interoperable: regardless of the modern metering device used: “We have already successfully addressed a large number of MSB APIs and are currently in intensive testing of the entire supply chain,” explains Oliver Deuschle, Managing Director of SMIGHT.

Five SMIGHT customers are currently starting so-called 14a pilot projects, including Stadtwerke Frankenthal GmbH and Stadtwerke Fellbach GmbH. The aim is to complete the technical integration and test the control chain in live operation. “We are therefore offering all our customers – and those who would like to become customers – the 14a projects to make it easier for them to get started in the 14a world and to gain valuable experience together,” Deuschle continues.

Image: SMIGHT and advalju successfully demonstrated §14a EnWG-compliant control in the low-voltage grid at the Smart Energy Dialogue.

 

Three-phase voltage measurement up to the cable distribution board

Karlsruhe, February 6, 2025 – With another new development – the SMIGHT Grid2 Voltage Sensor – SMIGHT GmbH will enable three-phase voltage measurement, particularly in cable distribution cabinets (CDCs). The strong growth of PV systems in the low-voltage grid makes it increasingly necessary to monitor the voltage outside the local grid station. Seamlessly integrated into the overall SMIGHT solution, the product extension enables distribution grid operators to record and evaluate the grid status in the low voltage even more comprehensively using live measurement data.

Photovoltaic systems are already feeding over 60 GW of power into the German grid. This amount is set to almost double in a few years. This leads to a high feed-in power with high simultaneity – which is increasing rapidly. The further away the feed-in point, i.e. the PV system, is from the transformer, the more the voltage in the cable increases. Three-phase voltage measurement is becoming increasingly important, especially in cable distribution cabinets, in order to recognize this development in the grid and to be able to initiate countermeasures at an early stage in the event of an imminent violation of the voltage band.

Three-phase voltage, active and apparent power

This is precisely where the SMIGHT Grid2 Voltage Sensor product extension comes in: the device not only enables the monitoring of the voltage curve of all three phases, but also the calculation of the active and apparent power of the outgoing circuits and transformers under consideration. The information about the voltage is provided in the SMIGHT IQ Cockpit in addition to the outgoing current values with direction of flow, which are recorded in 4 phases and every minute. This gives grid operators a clear picture of their low-voltage grid.

The voltage sensor: a retrofittable multitool

The device establishes the connection to all three phase conductors using the CONLOX® connection system from Laniol. This only takes a few minutes. The Voltage Sensor integrates perfectly into the SMIGHT Grid2 plug-and-play measurement solution: it can be easily retrofitted into existing installations and is also used to supply power to the SMIGHT Grid2 Sensor Flex.

“With the SMIGHT Grid2 Voltage Sensor, we are taking intelligent grid monitoring to the next level,” says Oliver Deuschle, Managing Director of SMIGHT GmbH. “The Voltage Sensor is technologically a unique multi-tool that gives grid operators the opportunity to be flexible in its application and to analyze the grid status in even greater detail.”

Availability of the Voltage Sensor

The SMIGHT Grid2 Voltage Sensor can be ordered from E-world. A webinar on the Voltage Sensor will take place on February 26 at 11 a.m. Registration: SMIGHT Webinar zum Voltage Sensor

The Voltage Sensor will be presented live for the first time at E-world Energy & Water (February 11-13, 2025, Hall 5, Stand E112).

 

SMIGHT GmbH is on course for growth and will be demonstrating this at E-world energy & water (11-13.2.2025, Essen) with hardware innovations and new data products. The leading provider of a comprehensive solution for measurement technology and grid monitoring now also enables data-based load management in accordance with §14a EnWG. But there is also news on the hardware side. In addition to an expansion module for transformer measurements, the Karlsruhe-based company will also be presenting another new product at E-world.

SMIGHT GmbH can look back on a successful year: with stable growth and numerous new customers using SMIGHT Grid2 for greater transparency, grid security and stability. A total of more than 35,000 low-voltage feeders are now recorded on a minute-by-minute basis, enabling distribution system operators to master their day-to-day grid operations and the upcoming energy transition issues: in grid operation, grid planning and asset management.

“Oour solution is constantly evolving in close cooperation with our customers. The increasing demand in the market for grid transparency and load management shows us that the energy transition is now taking place in the distribution grid and grid operators are relying on digitalization to efficiently plan the necessary investments,” says Oliver Deuschle, Managing Director of SMIGHT GmbH. “For this reason, we are constantly developing ourselves and our portfolio in line with these needs.”

Data-based load management with the SMIGHT IQ Copilot
The SMIGHT IQ Copilot offers distribution grid operators a secure solution for implementing the legal requirements in accordance with §14a EnWG. The load manager has been successfully tested under realistic conditions and maps the entire process chain: from the recorded and reported overload to the triggering of a dimming command via BDEW-WebAPI to the relevant controllable consumption devices (SteuVE). The SMIGHT IQ Copilot also enables documentation in accordance with BNetzA and VDE FNN specifications.

SMIGHT Grid2 Connect UMG: Expansion module for transformer measurements
Another innovation for 2025 is the SMIGHT Grid2 Connect UMG. This allows third-party measurement devices to be integrated into the SMIGHT ecosystem. The adapter connects devices from the Janitza UMG 96-PQ-L series to a SMIGHT Grid2 gateway in just a few minutes without any wiring work. Information about the three-phase voltage and transformer utilization can thus be stored and displayed.

Visit us at the E-world 2024
SMIGHT invites all interested parties to get to know these and other new products at E-world 2025 in Essen.
Visit us from February 11 to 13, 2025 at our (new) stand 5E112. Further information

SMIGHT has joined NODES’ NODESconnect™ partnership programme. NODES and SMIGHT both believe that flexibility is crucial for us, as a society, to achieve the energy transition. A crucial part of enabling flexibility is for network operators to identify where, when, and to what extent they need it – this is what SMIGHT wants to enhance on the NODES flexibility market.

NODESconnect™ is a partnership program for participants of the digital flexibility value chain. The program aims to further collaboration between participants in building a more efficient, automated and transparent flexibility market.

Flexibility is the term used to describe the ability of any assets to adjust their behaviour to shift electricity grid loads. Flexibility is used to reduce peaks in demand or supply to avoid the expensive consequences of these high loads such as network damage, large price fluctuations, and the long-term need for over dimensioned infrastructure. Flexibility is also widely used to maintain grid stability before reinforcement work can be carried out.

The need for flexibility has been born out of the energy transition leading to much more volatile network loads and a rate of load growth which is outstripping network operators’ capacities to keep up with network build-out i.e. a network operator might know that it needs to reinforce a section of its network, and it might well have the funds to do it, however is constrained in terms of its supply chain and/or personnel resources. To prevent blackouts, the network operator can deploy flexibility to reduce loads at times of high demand.

NODES is a Norwegian technology company which is paving the way for a more sustainable future. NODES award-winning market design and technology platform is helping speed up the energy transition by unlocking the value of flexibility within the electricity network. NODES uses this technology and market design to operate flexibility markets as an Independent Market Operator.

SMIGHT, based in Germany, is a provider of a market leading Low Voltage Grid Monitoring and Control solution to over 125 DSOs in central Europe. NODES and SMIGHT share a common background of both having been established as solutions to large utilities’ problems (In NODES’ case from Å Energi, and in SMIGHT’s case from Netze BW) and a common view of the role that smart grids can play in our current, and future Net Zero, world.

The Venn Diagram of where the two companies’ interests overlap is in the enablement of flexibility out on the low voltage grids. SMIGHT’s solution enables DSOs to identify and predict where, when, and to what extent flexibility is required in their Low Voltage networks. NODES then enables the marketing of this flex requirement to Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs). Without live monitoring of the low voltage grid, DSOs must estimate at a wider scale the level of flexibility that is required. This has two potentially negative consequences:

1. That DSOs need to precure more flex than they really need, this means that either it costs more or that flex providers get paid less than they otherwise would, which in turn means they are more reluctant to participate in the market.
2. The network operators can inadvertently end up causing grid congestion. This happens when demand turn up is procured without consideration for network capacity.

“NODES are pleased to welcome SMIGHT in to the NODESconnect program. We believe that the acceleration of the energy transition, can only happen through the creation of a more digital and integrated value chain. Companies like SMIGHT are able to integrate their solutions to the NODES flexibility trading platform and offer the availability of different assets connected to the LV network, enabling the utility to secure flexibility when and where they need it and alleviate congestion issues” says Richard Sarti, CEO NODES.

“Here at SMIGHT we are really excited to join NODES’ family of partner organisations and with this to start helping DSOs access and realise far greater levels of highly ‘granular’ flexibility which are to be found out on the LV Networks in the form of home EV chargers, heat pumps, and domestic battery systems”, says Dirk ter Haar – International Business Development Manager at SMIGHT.

The distribution grid of the future is digital, transparent and controllable. But grid operators need to lay the foundations for this today. This is precisely where SMIGHT comes in: with a comprehensive solution that has been specially developed to record and analyze the complex information from the low-voltage grid and to act quickly if necessary.

In our webinar, Robin Rudat and Rainer Sträter from SMIGHT present the holistic solution approach: Hands-on, practical and simple.

Am 28. November um 11 Uhr

You can find the recording on Youtube here.

SMIGHT GmbH has successfully tested and implemented its 14a load manager under realistic conditions. This enables the company to map the entire process chain with the SMIGHT IQ Copilot: from the recorded and reported overload to the triggering of a dimming command via BDEW-WebAPI to the relevant controllable consumption devices (SteuVE). The SMIGHT IQ Copilot also enables documentation in accordance with BNetzA and VDE FNN specifications.

The SMIGHT IQ Copilot offers distribution grid operators a secure solution for implementing the legal requirements in accordance with §14a EnWG. In view of the growing number of electric cars, heat pumps and storage systems, grid operators must be able to reliably detect bottlenecks and temporarily dim connected controllable load devices. The load manager supplements the SMIGHT IQ Cockpit for low voltage used by over 120 distribution grid operators with two automatic monitoring and control functions for critical grid areas. To test these, SMIGHT successfully tested and implemented the entire process chain in the EnQS GmbH test laboratory under realistic conditions: from triggering an overload to controlling a wallbox

Load management without a calculable grid model
The SMIGHT Copilot does not require a calculable grid model. Grid bottlenecks are precisely detected by SMIGHT sensor technology with a precise output and minute accuracy. In the event of a critical load, for example close to the fuse value, a dimming command is triggered in the system. If there is no longer an overload, the command is canceled again.

The generated dimming commands are transmitted to the relevant control units via the BDEW Web API. These can be assigned to the previously created local network stations and cable distribution cabinets in just a few steps in a map view. The process is then documented in accordance with BNetzA and VDE FNN specifications. The solution thus fulfills current regulatory and ISMS requirements and can be quickly adapted to future requirements.

If real-time measurement data is not yet available for a grid area, preventive time windows for dimming can be specified manually for the areas at risk. This ensures stability for all grid areas immediately.

“First and foremost, digitalization must ensure that the grid is under control with foresight,” explains Oliver Deuschle, Managing Director of SMIGHT GmbH. “However, if control is unavoidable, it must be seamless. The combination of easy-to-install measurement technology, web-based visualization and automated control makes our overall solution ready for immediate use without additional IT effort and contributes directly to grid stability.”

A webinar on our implementation of measurement data-based load management in accordance with §14a EnWG will take place on 7.11.2024 at 11 a.m. Registration via: https://smight.com/webinar-messdatenbasiertes-lastmanagement/

SMIGHT GmbH now also enables the data integration of transformer measurements. With the SMIGHT Grid2 Connect UMG, third-party measuring devices can be integrated into the SMIGHT ecosystem, thereby supplementing the monitoring of over 33,000 measured low-voltage outgoing circuits. The adapter connects devices from the Janitza UMG 96-PQ-L series to a SMIGHT Grid2 gateway in just a few minutes without any wiring work. Information about the three-phase voltage and transformer utilization can thus be stored and displayed. With the Connect UMG, the existing measurement infrastructure can be easily integrated and the monitoring of the grid status can be quickly and efficiently expanded to include the transformer level.

More transparency – more knowledge: With this guiding principle, SMIGHT GmbH is constantly working to give distribution grid operators maximum control over their low-voltage grid. In addition to the four-phase measurement of outgoing circuits in local network substations, basic information on the status and utilization of a transformer can now also be displayed in the SMIGHT IQ low-voltage cockpit.

The new expansion module from SMIGHT fits into the existing expansion slot of the UMG 96-PA and UMG 96-PQ-L series network analyzers developed by Janitza electronics GmbH. Configuration is carried out in SMIGHT’s usual simple way using a QR code. After installation, the current, voltage and power measurement values of the Janitza measurement device used are displayed in the SMIGHT IQ low-voltage cockpit. This means that the use of the measuring device remains unrestricted.

“Our hardware and software are already established on the market as a comprehensive overall solution and, more importantly, our low-voltage cockpit allows distribution system operators to use the recorded data directly for grid operation and grid planning,” explains Oliver Deuschle, Managing Director of SMIGHT GmbH. “Now we are going one step further and linking our cockpit with external data – for even more insights into what is happening in the grid.”

“We are delighted that SMIGHT is opening up its proprietary ecosystem to us as an established manufacturer of power quality measurement devices, making the additional data obtained from the transformer secondary side easy to use for its customers,” adds Marcel Karell, Account Manager for energy suppliers at Janitza electronics GmbH.

Availability SMIGHT GRID2 Connect UMG
The SMIGHT Grid2 Connect UMG can be ordered now and will be available from January 2025. In addition, a variant of the Janitza UMG 96-PQ-L in SMIGHT design can be ordered directly from SMIGHT as a complete set with a Connect UMG.

A webinar on the topic of “Data integration of transformer measurements” will take place on 22.10.2024 at 11 a.m. Registration via: https://smight.com/webinar-connect-umg