Distribution grid planning

After years of limited investment in electrical infrastructure, many network owners face a number of challenges to maintain a secure and economical operation of their networks in the future. To achieve a secure, reliable, efficient and economical performance, the main services offered by Siemens PTI are:

• ­Identification of weak points in the existing system
• ­Development of an optimal network concept
• ­Verification of an appropriate system performance by analyzing defined KPIs
• ­Master plan towards an optimized network concept ensuring optimal investment utilization
• Reduction of costs by using standardized equipment and suitable asset management strategies
  

Successful integration of distributed energy resources (DER) into distribution networks relies heavily on effective planning and operation strategies. Siemens PTI provides a wide spectrum of consulting services covering both decentralized energy management and active network analysis for optimized inter-connection and operation strategies:

• ­Evaluation of techno-economically optimized DER placement and integration (sizing and siting)
• ­Distribution system analyses to ensure reliable power supply
• Interconnection studies to ensure compliance with grid codes
  
• Business case studies to leverage (new) businesses, roles and applications
  

Electromobility will have a large impact on present distribution networks. Today’s existing low voltage and medium voltage networks must be developed to cope with the future requirements resulting from the integration of large numbers of charging poles as well as fast charging stations for electromobility. Siemens PTI provides the full range of necessary knowledge and tools to:

• increase the “hosting capacity” of existing networks for electric vehicles,
• determine optimal and cost-efficient solutions for upcoming challenges and identify necessary technologies,
• improve network performance by considering the integration of charging control into intelligent management systems.

Smart grids are the basis for developing future transmission and distribution networks as highly flexible, reliable and sustainable systems. Siemens PTI develops optimal network structures and smart grid concepts considering: 

• ­application of innovative technologies, e.g. energy storage devices, power electronics, or electric vehicles
• use of communication technologies to improve observability and controllability of the networks,
• development of intelligent applications, protection and automation concepts,
• high security of supply and network performance,
• design of new network structures, e.g. microgrids, DC networks, overlay transmission grids.

Distributed energy systems (DES) and digitalization are driving the transformation of the energy world. Siemens PTI provides an integrated approach for the DES design to evaluate the technical feasibility while considering economic expectations.

• System definition: data acquisition and aggregation
• Generation analysis: simulation of generation mix
• Network analysis: modeling of electrical target network and in-depth network simulation
• Supply system analysis: iterative integration of generation and network analysis for optimized system design
• Detailed implementation roadmap

Through increasing decentralized transmission, compliance of the voltage quality of public networks becomes more and more challenging. Siemens PTI relies on an optimization approach, which provides the greatest technical reliability and can also be put into practice in an economical manner.

• Determining the number, type, properties and possible location of newly required voltage regulation equipment
• ­Coordination with existing control systems
• Consideration of voltage control as optimization task and solution via optimization model and a newly developed optimization software

Techno-economic evaluation of network to define economic value and revenue streams as well as unbundling and adaptation measures.

Analysis of CHP integration to evaluate optimal dimensioning and secure network connection.

Measurements and system simulation to understand outages in power system operation and define suitable mitigation measures.

Analysis of interferences from power supply systems on other networks and systems, modeling and calculation of electromagnetic fields.

Modeling and analysis of overvoltages and other transient phenomena, as well as of switching actions and their impact on system performance.

Improving the automated interoperability of power system data for planning, operation, protection, asset management etc.

Dimensioning of instrument transformers in substations and switchgear, especially current transformers in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS).

Evaluation of voltage stresses and determination of appropriate insulation levels and of protective devices for equipment and systems.

Measurements, development of lightning protection and grounding concepts, performance validation of installed systems and related disturbance analyses.

Assessment of voltage drop, current, and acceleration time during start-up of induction machines as well as analysis of the impact on other units and devices.

Development and performance validation of appropriate neutral grounding concepts and configurations in power systems.

Evaluation of impact of new loads and customer behavior on the energy demand for optimized grid dimensioning and operation. 

Design and monitoring of a customized regulatory compliance program and assistance during audits to avoid monetary penalties and reputational impact. 

Measurement, evaluation and continuous monitoring of power quality related phenomena to avoid equipment failure.

Development of suitable schemes for power system protection and coordination of appropriate settings for protection relays.

Automated assessment of protection security for reliable protection-setting determination, secure system operation, and of cascading trippings prevention.