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In a joint pilot project, four companies have successfully implemented automated, §14a-compliant network control in regular operation. E-Werk Netze GmbH & Co. KG, Digimondo GmbH, Envelio GmbH and TMZ Thüringer Mess-und Zählerwesen Service GmbH were involved. Together, they brought together measurement data from local network stations and intelligent measurement systems (IMsys) in an interoperable manner, processed it in a digital network model and used it for network-oriented control processes. The project shows how technological interoperability, data security and regulatory requirements can be successfully combined. The highlight of the pilot was the dimming of a wallbox directly from the Intelligent Grid Platform (IGP) in real time — implemented efficiently using existing systems.
New regulations are constantly challenging energy companies. One example is the new regulation of Section 14a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG). The legislative amendment aims to use the power grid more efficiently and to ensure the connection of new consumer devices despite heavy loads. Implementation is currently one of the most urgent operational tasks for network operators and can only be completed on the basis of a solid data basis. Network operators must efficiently utilize more and more data across systems and without new lock-in effects from equipment, sensors and meters. Legislators require data integration into existing systems, real-time monitoring, efficient processing of measurement data and standardized operating processes. Network operators and public utilities need a solution that allows them to analyze measurement data, identify potential energy savings and ensure compliance with standards. There is no way around the use of intelligent measurement systems for recording and digital processing. This is all happening under time pressure, with a high level of regulatory responsibility and in a low-voltage network that is not sufficiently transparent in many places. But only with a holistic and structured view of all energy data can current and future regulatory requirements be implemented.
Sebastian Hogenmüller, Digital Distribution Network Program Manager at E-Werk Netze, emphasizes: “Data enables network operators to make well-founded decisions and ensure efficient network operation. Last but not least, data is required along the entire value chain. They are therefore the backbone of a successful energy transition. Network operators need a strategy to collect, store, contextualize and integrate data into their existing specialist systems. Because it is by no means just a matter of complying with current legal requirements. It is time to set up the technical infrastructure for a digital, intelligent, controllable and therefore sustainable energy system. ”
§14a: Connection guarantee, dimmability and compensation discount
The Federal Network Agency has revised paragraph 14a of the EnWG to regulate the “network-oriented management of controllable consumer devices and controllable network connections.” This is intended to ensure security of supply and at the same time accelerate the energy, transport and heating transition. The new regulation comprises three key points: On the one hand, a connection guarantee will be mandatory. Network operators may no longer refuse or delay the connection of heat pumps or charging devices such as wallboxes with reference to a possible network overload. Dimmability, i.e. control of the consumer devices, is also required. This means that in the event of acute network congestion, the network operator may temporarily reduce the performance of affected devices. Anyone who operates a corresponding system must ensure that it is able to implement control commands from the network operator. In order to meet the requirements, the metering point operator must equip the consumption system or grid connection with suitable control technology. In return, plant operators receive a discount on their electricity bill as compensation for controllability.
In this complex situation, it is possible to easily meet the requirements of §14a efficiently and with relatively low investment using existing systems. This is shown by a recent example of four committed project partners: E‑Werk Netze is the regional distribution system operator and is responsible for the operation, planning, expansion and maintenance of the electricity distribution network in the supply area of the Ortenau district and in adjacent network areas. Together with Digimondo, Envelio and TMZ, E-Werk Netze has created essential foundations for automated, §14a-compliant network control: Measurement data from local network stations and intelligent measurement systems were brought together interoperably in Digimondo's central network data platform, processed in a digital network model and used for network-oriented control processes. A central technical element is the certificate-based communication architecture. It enables secure and standards-compliant data exchange between all systems. It also ensures that the BDEW API is accessible via an external, internet-based switching service.
Joint success: Pilot project creates basis for marketable use
E-Werk Netze was responsible for overall project management, overall coordination and coordination of service providers, and the development of the target architecture. This included defining the interfaces between all participating partners, integrating the measurement technology into the existing system landscape, and commissioning a wallbox with a smart meter gateway (SMGW) and a control box at the test site. In addition, the regional network operator took over the validation of the complete end-to-end process.
With the Niotix IoT platform, Digimondo provided the central data hub for the project, which persists significant amounts of data from outgoing measurements and TAF10 data. Measurement data from different measurement technology systems were harmonized and fed into a uniform, model-based data format. Niotix correctly assigns stations, departures, SMGWs and measurement points and supplements them with GIS information. Together with E-Werk Netze and Envelio, Digimondo also set up a consistent GIS mapping for a clear location of the measurement points in the digital network model. This enables the correct allocation of measurement points for subsequent network calculations. With the specially developed metadata model, the software company is making a central contribution to the vendor-independent, interoperable and scalable provision of network data in the low-voltage grid.
Envelio receives the measurement data provided via a uniform interface and integrates it in a scalable way into the digital grid twin of the Intelligent Grid Platform (IGP). The measurement data from the various measurement technology providers are brought together in the IGP. They serve as the basis for online monitoring, state estimation and bottleneck analyses in the low-voltage grid. These functions have been successfully validated and form a completely digital end-to-end process chain — from data collection to network model calculation to the derivation and triggering of control commands. With the direct dimming of a real wallbox in real time from the IGP, the project proved under real conditions that the §14a control system can be implemented operationally, automatically and completely in a digital twin. Envelio thus forms the analytical and controlling core system of the pilot project and provides the technical basis for subsequent mass implementation.
In the project, TMZ is responsible for the complete communication and switching infrastructure between smart meter gateways, FNN control boxes and the connected systems. The company provided the infrastructure for parameterizing, receiving and forwarding TAF10 network status data to Digimondo's message broker. FNN control boxes are used in an effective PKI environment to implement the switching requirements. For secure authentication and reliable operation, TMZ provided the necessary systems for control box administration, termination of CLS channels, and the certificate-based communication environment. The communicative accessibility of the BDEW API via an external, internet-based switching service should be emphasized. Tax requests are received from the Envelio system and forwarded via EEBus to the connected control boxes and the wall box connected there. This guarantees that both the data provision and the switching process are carried out in a completely standards-compliant, safe and interoperable manner.
Sebastian Hogenmüller says: “The developed architecture is scalable, standardized and future-proof and forms the basis for subsequent mass implementation throughout the distribution network. On this basis, E-Werk Netze will further develop the solution together with the participating service providers and gradually enable it for broad, marketable use. We have thus laid an essential building block for a digitalized, intelligent and controllable energy system of the future. ”
