Smart Technology for Smart Grids

The energy supply of the future will be characterized by decentralized and fluctuating generation of renewable energy. This creates a challenge for balancing energy demand and energy generation. The increasing injection of renewable energy in medium and even low voltage networks demands new solutions from the grid operators. Therefore, the medium and low voltage networks will be far more automated than they are today.

New demands for network operations

Power generation near urban and industrial centres will shrink since renewable energy is most efficiently generated in specific locations, such as offshore (wind) and solar (initiative Desertec). This requires energy transmission over very long distances. HVDC power lines are increasingly used in the transmission networks and must be integrated in the grid management.

PSIcontrol provides extensive functionality which enable our customers to meet the challenges posed by these technological changes.

For management of transmission networks, the following control system functions are already in operation today:

• Overhead power line monitoring
• Generation management
• Bottleneck management
• Forecasting, including wind and sun

These functions are continuously enhanced based on the changing demands faced by our customers. These functions can also be adapted to meet new requirements on the distribution network level.

Already today, our customers use PSIcontrol with fully integrated medium voltage network applications and functions for managing 0,4kV networks. Advanced management functions allow intelligent and appropriate control of renewable energy injections for both transmission and distribution networks to ensure grid stability.