5. September 2024
With grid planning based on real-time data, Oberhausener Netzgesellschaft mbH (OB Netz) is now ensuring greater transparency in its low-voltage grid. SMIGHT sensors record current and voltage, including load flow direction, to the minute at 26 stations. A further 24 stations will be equipped with SMIGHT sensors in 2024 in order to be able to map the emerging challenges in the grid. The SMIGHT data also validates and accelerates the approval process in Oberhausen for the increasing number of grid connection requests.
Oberhausener Netzgesellschaft mbH (OB Netz) is responsible for the planning, construction and operation of the electricity, gas and district heating network in Oberhausen. The subsidiary of Energieversorgung Oberhausen AG supplies over 212,000 residents and has a total of 670 of its own grid stations. However, flexibility in the grid is increasing: caused by PV, electromobility and the heating transition. In order to map these variables in the grid, a suitable tool was sought and finally found in SMIGHT.
Market analysis and winter
Based on a list of requirements, OB-Netz 2022 decided to carry out a market analysis to identify a suitable measurement solution for its low-voltage grid. The company hoped that this would provide more transparency and thus a better, data-based foundation for its network planning. This selection process was accelerated by the threat of a gas shortage in the winter of 2022. The Oberhausen-based company quickly decided on a pilot project with one of the favorites identified in the market analysis: SMIGHT Grid2. This enabled the grid company to measure and monitor the four-phase current and voltage in five stations in an inner-city area with a very high population density at short notice. There were no bottlenecks, but enthusiasm for the solution grew.
“The sensors and gateways arrived two weeks after the order was placed and installation was also quick and easy – the stations were digital 15 minutes after commissioning,” explains Fabian Richter, a member of the network planning team for digitalization and gas strategy. “Probably the most important advantage, however, is the clear display of all the necessary information in the SMIGHT IQ Cockpit. After all, what good is the best solution if it is not accepted by the employees?”
In the meantime, 26 local grid stations with a wide variety of load profiles have been equipped with SMIGHT Grid2 throughout the entire grid area: In addition to urban areas, the six-strong grid planning team also monitors industrial areas with peak loads due to high PV feed-in on the roofs of warehouses. In areas with single-family homes, on the other hand, the proportion of electromobility is growing strongly alongside PV.
Network planning next level
The Oberhausen-based company uses the SMIGHT solution primarily for grid planning. For them, the tried-and-tested drag indicator and mobile measuring devices for short-term measurements are no longer sufficient and too time-consuming for the loads and feed-ins that arise. By exporting the SMIGHT data, they could work directly in the grid calculation software.
“Due to the many variables in the grid, assumptions and grid calculations without long-term measurements were no longer meaningful enough,” says Richter. “These also cover the dynamics within the grids – i.e. weather conditions, load behavior of connection users, expansion of power requirements and generation – and can therefore be taken into account in grid planning and operation,” summarizes Richter.
The Oberhausen team now also works regularly in the SMIGHT IQ Cockpit. Once a month, the entire team also sits down together to take a look at the monthly report. This allows new insights to be drawn from the data and network planning and calculation to be further improved.
Process connection requests more efficiently
Connection requests for renewable energy systems are also increasing in Oberhausen – a major challenge for employees. In 2023 alone, there were 1415, more than twice as many as in the previous year. Before SMIGHT Grid2 was used, the topology of the grid area was examined and evaluated and, in case of doubt, a short-term measurement was even installed.
Fabian Richter says: “We simply needed too long from the application to the approval or expansion – if necessary. Today, our colleagues first take a look at the SMIGHT IQ Cockpit and can directly assess the status of the respective section of the network – also with regard to the weather, seasonal influences, etc.. This not only saves us working time, but also enables us to provide our customers with more precise information much more efficiently.
Conclusion and next steps
With the help of SMIGHT data, the OB grid can operate and plan its low-voltage grid with greater foresight. If bottlenecks become apparent, employees can plan and prepare suitable measures such as switching or relocating disconnection points at an early stage. “And last but not least, we feel we are well equipped to meet the requirements for grid status monitoring in accordance with Section 14a, as we have already equipped almost ten percent of our supply areas with measurement technology. And the trend is rising,” says Richter.
OB-Netz is currently installing SMIGHT technology in 24 additional stations. The company is also planning to equip more stations with the sensor technology every year. Network operations and the planned, fully automated network connection planning should also benefit from the insights gained from the data.
The continuous further development of the solution is another reason for Richter to rely on SMIGHT: The Karlsruhe-based company will have a data-based load manager available by the end of 2024 with regard to grid-oriented control in accordance with Section 14a EnWG.
