6. March 2023
Making distribution grid operators fit for the future. SMIGHT GmbH has set itself this task. In addition to quick and easy installation of the measurement solution, this also includes processing the data obtained from the local network station directly so that it can be used immediately in daily operations. New functionalities in SMIGHT IQ make it possible to identify emerging or existing bottlenecks or problems in the low-voltage grid even faster. To this end, those responsible receive targeted and meaningfully prepared information across all levels: from the substation, including the outgoing circuits and individual phases, to the entire grid area.
Over 2,000 local network stations at over 50 distribution network operators are already equipped with SMIGHT sensors. That’s 14,000 outlets that record measurement data every 15 minutes: 5.4 million data points a day. However, this data must be read and interpreted in order to derive meaningful measures from it. Information directly from the web portal and reports prepared by SMIGHT provide the necessary transparency.
More clarity at a glance
How busy is the local substation and what role do reactive or feed-in power play? With just a few clicks, SMIGHT IQ provides users with useful information about the status of the entire substation and they can then – as usual – take a closer look at and evaluate the status down to the individual outgoing circuits and phases. This is ensured by a new display with aggregated information that provides an upper estimate of the utilization of the feeders within the station. Also new and available with just one click is a display of the transformer load curve. The reactive and feed-in power can be evaluated using these two views in order to determine cable loads. And this in turn is the basis for well-founded, data-based action planning.
Advantages for network operation, planning and expansion
The new functionalities and options offer added value for various areas of work relating to the low-voltage grid. In day-to-day grid operation, the data obtained provides important insights for carrying out, evaluating and monitoring switching measures in a targeted manner.
In grid planning, SMIGHT helps to validate key figures from the literature for your own grid. Heavy and light load cases can be determined at station, feeder and phase level and the characteristics of e-mobility, photovoltaics, combined heat and power plants and heat pumps can be identified.
The data is also a good basis for further expansion or renewal planning in the low-voltage grid in order to monitor load development, including seasonality, and to correctly prioritize renewal measures.
Effects on the grid area
Starting in February, SMIGHT users will receive a monthly e-mail with important key figures of all measured stations and feeders in their network areas summarized on one page as a PDF. Among other things, the monthly report shows them the development of the utilization of their feeders over the last few months as well as the maximum values of individual feeders or stations. As usual, all data can of course be linked directly to other systems, such as grid simulation, via a convenient interface in real time.
“The status of each individual station has an impact on the entire grid area,” emphasizes Oliver Deuschle, Managing Director of SMIGHT GmbH. “It is therefore essential and very important to us to provide grid operators at all levels – from the phase to the grid area – with information from the grid. And in such a way that the data can be used directly and concrete measures can be derived.”
