Selected project examples
Introduction of Fichtner Digital Grid to set up a computationally capable overall grid model at Energienetze Mittelrhein GmbH & Co. KG
Fichtner Digital Grid supports Energienetze Mittelrhein in meeting the current challenges of the energy industry with a unique, flexibly scalable solution package. The focus is on the company-wide, convenient use of the most automated processes possible for the increasing number of connection requests from renewable energy systems, heat pumps and e-mobility.
Fichtner Digital Grid is a solution portfolio for grid operators that successfully combines Fichtner's proven engineering industry expertise and process know-how with innovative technological competence, thus offering forward-looking and economical solutions for the success of satisfied customers.
Energienetze Mittelrhein GmbH & Co. KG is the grid company responsible for operating the electricity grid in 227 municipalities and the natural gas grid in 255 municipalities and towns in northern Rhineland-Palatinate. It is part of the evm Group. Energieversorgung Mittelrhein AG (evm) is the largest municipal energy and service company in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Electricity distribution grids are currently undergoing major changes. While maintaining their efficiency, they need to reliably accommodate the ever-increasing proportion of volatile and non-regulated energy generation. At the same time, system costs should be minimized. Energienetze Mittelrhein GmbH & Co. KG - like so many distribution grid operators at present - faced the specific challenge of responding promptly to the constantly increasing number of grid connection applications in the low-voltage and medium-voltage grid.
In order to enable higher throughput, e.g. for grid connection checks, new, automated processes for grid data improvement and visualization, grid calculation, regulation and asset management must be established and increasingly large volumes of data must be processed efficiently. The innovative Fichtner Digital Grid solution portfolio ensures flexible integration of the increasing number of tasks and processes relating to connection management and grid calculation as well as a cross-system, resource-oriented, modern consolidation platform, the so-called Digital Twin.
To enable the necessary process simplification and automation, topologically computable and geographically correct grid models were generated for the entire grid area (both medium and low voltage) on the basis of this digital twin, which are updated on a weekly basis. For simple and fast load flow and short-circuit calculation, these are made available to users via a browser in a target group-oriented manner for the evaluation of and response to network management work processes.
The grid calculation is carried out in real time using the tried-and-tested DIgSILENT Powerfactory grid calculation tool. The expert tool Fichtner Digital Grid Calculate automatically transfers the necessary data to the grid calculation tool, the grid calculations are carried out and the results are fed back into the digital grid image in Calculate with identification and immediately visualized in the Fichtner Digital Grid geo-visualization tool. For example, any regional overloads can be identified at an early stage and possible expansion variants can be planned and calculated directly using the integrated grid processing functions.
The Fichtner EasyConnect module introduced at Energienetze Mittelrhein also enables a fully automated, technical check and evaluation of the constantly increasing number of connection requests in medium and low-voltage electrical distribution grids. Thanks also to the direct connection to the CRM system TINA from CURSOR Software AG, which is currently in use, the processing time for the corresponding applications can be reduced many times over.
