The grid edge revolution - Innovative drivers towards net-zero energy
We show how innovations at the grid edge are helping to drive one of the most radical transitions in human history – a move from a centralized energy system to one that is more decentralized, more local and more efficient. Towards an energy system that is more democratic and where individuals have more control. An energy system that meets the needs of the global population, but that also benefits the planet.
Challenges for grid operators
The energy systems of the future are increasingly decarbonized, distributed, and digitalized. This fundamental transformation is in full swing and poses a wide range of challenges for all stakeholders. Only digitalization will allow us to master these challenges. Ensuring that the digital transformation succeeds in the energy sector requires decisiveness, flexibility, and intelligent investments in smart digital technology. This is the only way to manage current tasks while creating enough leeway to actively shape the future. Investments in innovative technologies today create future-proof power grids characterized by reliability, efficiency, and sustainability.
Digital Substation - Creating a more secure, efficient and modern electricity system
Hydro-Québec selected Siemens to modernize the protection and control system at its Saint-Chrysostome substation. From automation to cybersecurity, the power utility is now well on its way toward a digitalized future.
Substations with the future built in – a driver of the digital transformation
Substations are an integral component of power grids. They connect grids of differing voltage levels, and their controlling and coordinating function is vitally important to the stability of the overall system. That’s why they’re considered the heart of the power grid. Their digitalization is a decisive step toward successfully shaping the transformation of energy systems.Digital over the entire life cycle
It turns out that a digitalized substation can be operated much more cost-effectively over its life cycle – from planning and operation to service. A digitalized substation also increases the availability, reliability, and sustainability of the entire power supply. That’s how it provides added value that’s relevant for utility companies and grid operators.
Our experience in infrastructure and software uniquely positions us as your end-to-end digitalization partner.Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG
David Green from IHS Markit Ltd. on digital substations
“Digital substation is a massive part of being able to monitor your system in a more intelligent way.” Watch our latest interview with David Green, Research Manager at IHS Markit Ltd., a publicly-listed data and information provider based in London.
The integrated 360° portfolio of products and solutions from Siemens covers all digitalization aspects of a substation. It enables operators to significantly increase the availability, efficiency, and sustainability of their grid.
The six aspects are:
- Digitalization of the substation level
- Digitalization of the process level
- Cybersecurity
- Asset management
- Grid operation
- Integrated engineering
Substations with the future built in: Your benefits
Decarbonization, decentralization, digitalization – everything that will shape the energy systems of the future is already highly concentrated in digital substations. With their availability, these substations are able to introduce cost-effectiveness and sustainability into the power supply. The foundation of this development is the fully exploited strength of digitalization.
The Internet of Energy (IoE, also called the Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT) is an Internet of Things specifically for the energy sector, and is the product of the progressive integration of operational and information technology. Smart grid components generate data that is visualized and analyzed in MindSphere, which prepares it to deliver more reliable, sustainable, and profitable grid operation.
Your benefits from smart system components and IT/OT convergence:
- Data is collected and transmitted to a cloud-based platform like MindSphere
- Data evaluation and analysis
- Data analysis for system maintenance and grid operation
- Generation of data-based strategies that create added value using the MindSphere Application Center
- You will increase your profitability thanks to a longer system life cycle, greater availability, and higher efficiency
IoT-connectivity
SIPROTEC and SICAM products connect all the components of your substation to MindSphere and other cloud-based platforms – easily and directly. All you need to do is update the communication firmware with the standardized OPC UA PubSub protocol.
All the data is available in MindSphere and can be analyzed and visualized using the Grid Diagnostic Suite powered by MindSphere.
Virtual testing of SIPROTEC 5 protection devices in the cloud
The SIPROTEC DigitalTwin is real time digital replica of a physical SIPROTEC 5 device including interfaces, functionality and algorithms. The new innovative cloud based SIPROTEC DigitalTwin offers comprehensive test of your SIPROTEC 5 devices as part of the energy automation system with high efficiency, performance, security and availability 24/7 from everywhere without any hardware.
Three steps to success:
- Upload your engineering data and your automated test cases
- Simulate and test your energy automation system in the cloud.
- Get test reports of your engineered system
Thought leader interview
“Modern energy systems generate huge amounts of data. Which advantages do you see?”
In this video, Marion Labatut explains, how the digital substation helps operate the grid in a more efficient way over the entire lifecycle of its assets. This includes the transparency and focus on investments as well as a fast reaction time for all events in the grid – even via remote maintenance. This not only avoids disruptions and downtimes but also allows various decentralized assets to be controlled in an integrated manner.
