Digimondo Customer Day confirms trend in network management
Anyone who wants to intelligently control low-voltage networks in accordance with §14a EnWG needs data — not only measurement data from intelligent measurement systems, but above all sensor-based status data of equipment collected in the field. In addition, a tool is needed that processes this data in a meaningful and effective manner. If there was still a need for proof that niotix is such a platform and data hub in the energy revolution, then it was provided to Digimondo GmbH at Customer Day 2023. Several presentations focused on exactly this topic in a practical way. “With the niotix IoT platform, we enable our customers to operate their networks more effectively on several levels — the central hub niotix is the collection point for all data that can be used as a basis for simulation, control and network planning in subsequent systems,” summarized a satisfied Digimondo managing director Christopher Rath. Two figures also document the interest in Digimondo's Internet of Things platform: With over 100 participants and a dozen partner companies, the customer day in Hamburg's Speicherstadt was more popular than ever before.
Niotix IoT platform becomes a game changer in network management
Practical example 1: Constantine Ott, >enercity Netz GmbH, reported on the experience gained in Hanover with the rollout of IoT-based sensors in local network stations. More than 350 SF6 stations are now integrated into the monitoring system. The advantages include the fact that the inspection cycle has been extended from one and a half to eight years and that two working hours are saved per inspection.
Practical example 2: At the >SWO Netz GmbH In Osnabrück, the Digimondo IoT platform niotix end-to-end was linked to the IEC network control center. There, operating status information from local network stations, gas pressure control systems and groundwater measurement points is received via niotix, which enables highly effective monitoring and reduces response times in case of fault scenarios. Tim Klausmeyer, IoT platform manager at SWO Netz, presented how the system connection works technically and showed that with this interface, any type of data can be easily and securely forwarded to the network control center software.
Practical example 3: Die >ITS Information Technology Service GmbH has implemented a full integration of niotix into their Lovion BIS. The integration of IoT sensors creates a digital twin of systems, equipment and network topology. Lovion Grid Control, as the extended solution is called, enables online access to the digital twin down to individual sensors in the operational information system. Via the NIOTIX dashboard in the Lovion system, events in the low-voltage network can be followed virtually live. Through full integration between the static BIS world and the dynamic IoT world, sensor data can be displayed and evaluated directly in the existing equipment database. At the same time, a fully integrated end-2-end process to troubleshoot systems can be mapped in a normal workforce management system. In this way, specialist users in the network departments can continue working with their usual specialist systems. What Marc Holzapfel and Jörg Klärner presented is revolutionizing plant management.
Case study 4: Process integration was also included in the presentation by Florian Kury, Ann-Kathrin Thunig and Mert Karakaya from >PwC Germany in focus — in this case, the end-to-end collaboration of niotix and SAP EAM based on S/4HANA for maintenance and repair work, specifically in the event of a transformer station failure. From the use of sensors, monitoring in niotix and the resulting remote monitoring to the integration of real-time data into SAP EAM, a seamless process is made possible, which brings with it a variety of added value.
The overview presentation on current regulatory challenges by Alexander Sommer from >items GmbH & Co. KG made it clear that there is no way around the digitization of networks — and thus the integration of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) — if the diverse challenges of decarbonizing the supply system and sector coupling are to be overcome.
Niotix IoT platform — all-rounder in the municipal environment
IoT solutions and niotix are nevertheless suitable for many other applications: Dennis Faulhaber from >Stadtwerke Flensburg With the new WM-Bus functionality in niotix, presented how his company digitizes meter data collection using IoT, which challenges had to be overcome and which successes had already been achieved. The Niotix.wmbus decoder enables manufacturer-independent and simple integration of wmbus devices through hardware independence and full integration of OMS messages. Esther Euteneuer and Dominik Fischer from the >Heidelberg digital agency reported on the end-to-end submetering solution implemented in their city. Marc Dräger from >Badenova Networks GmbH explained how his company rolled out IoT water meters and how data is obtained via LoRaWAN. Martin Lempfert from >Stadtwerke Lübeck In turn, reported on the benefits of using IoT in municipal areas. As an example, he presented the use cases visitor count on Sunday sales, heavy rain, construction site tracking and parking space management.
“No doubt about it — the Internet of Things is conquering public utilities and municipalities,” summarized Christopher Rath. “And the rollout is at a breathtaking pace. Within a year, we have increased the number of sensors managed with niotix by more than 150%. In particular, the focus is on network issues as part of the energy transition. Our customer day impressively demonstrated this. Anyone who was there was amazed at the variety of solutions, the ingenuity of the players, felt the market dynamics, experienced the spirit of optimism and enthusiasm. We are already looking forward to Digimondo Customer Day next year. ”
