Due to the increasing number of photovoltaic and wind power plants, the trend is toward decentralized energy generation that must be intelligently controlled. In order to meet these challenges, operators of electrical distribution grids are dependent on a digitization of their infrastructure analogous to Industry 4.0. The aim of this transfer pilot is to map suitable application patterns from the field of Industry 4.0 to the context of a grid operator and, on this basis, to create a roadmap for a transformation process from distribution grid operator to grid system manager. Finally, a use case will be implemented as a demonstrator.

For decades, the energy sector (and grid operation in particular) was a predictable business sector that was less concerned with current innovations than with solid reliability in the form of large-scale expansion. Electrical energy was generated in centralized large-scale power plants and delivered to end users via transport networks and distribution grids. Often, this complete line was covered by only one company for a given region, which thus held a monopoly position. However, due to numerous steps in the liberalization of the energy sector, this business model is no longer possible today. In addition, photovoltaic systems can be found on the roofs of most new buildings and wind turbines can be found at the gates of cities. The trend is toward decentralized energy production. Thus, individual residential areas are no longer well-predictable consumers, but feed irregular power into the energy grid. However, this new situation comes up against the analog metering systems that are still frequently present in the low-voltage grid. This has resulted in a certain pressure for digitization, which the industry has been experiencing for several years. Thus, analogous to the buzzword Industry 4.0 in the energy sector, there is already talk of the energy network 4.0. In principle, the same technologies can be used, which must be adapted to the requirements of the network operators.

The goal of this project is to develop a technology roadmap specific to WWN for the necessary transformation process, which shows the way to a digital distribution network operator. This includes not only sensor technology suitable for the distribution network, but also matching concepts on how to handle the expected data volumes. The perspective target state here is the real-time system, in which the data is evaluated directly and can be translated immediately into control signals that are useful to the grid. The project provides the company with an overview of the current technological possibilities and compares these in close coordination with the specific requirements of a distribution network operator. The roadmap created on this basis is thus an essential part of the path to complete digitization of the distribution grid and thus also enables long-term anchoring of the project results in the company. The focus will be on possibilities for using edge computing systems for local and decentralized control of generation and consumption and the corresponding networking of decentralized systems, with particular attention to security and sustainability aspects.