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Press Release19 September 2019Siemens & Stromnetz HamburgMunich
Siemens and Stromnetz Hamburg launch pilot project for digital secondary distribution network
Hamburg will also moving expand electromobility and the supporting charging
infrastructure. In its capacity as the responsible distribution network operator,
Stromnetz Hamburg must ensure secure, reliable network operation and, at the same time, enable home charging stations to be increasingly integrated in the
network. Specified voltage ranges must also be maintained. Until now, home
charging stations have generally been integrated without external control or
possibilities for intervention. As a result, distribution networks reach their capacity
limits when a large number of electric cars are charged simultaneously, during peak
periods such as the end of a work day. The capacity limits of existing networks can
currently be overcome only by augmenting existing cables and replacing
transformers and switchgear. However, this requires labor-intensive and costly
construction measures, which can also have a significant negative impact on the
quality of urban living. Stromnetz Hamburg and Siemens are therefore collaborating
on a digital solution. By intervening with control and regulating measures, lowvoltage network operators can exploit the flexibility of home charging stations to
relieve the network, for example by distributing the load.
“The requirements to be met by future distribution networks are increasing steadily
due to the greater demand for power resulting from electromobility,” says Thomas
Volk, Managing Director of Stromnetz Hamburg. “We must be prepared for this and
make our network smarter and more flexible, especially on the low-voltage level; a
high degree of digitalization is the only way to reasonably be ready to deal with
sporadic capacity bottlenecks. The pilot project with Siemens gives us the
opportunity to thoroughly test this technology before rolling this - or comparable
solutions – out more broadly. Our customers should be able to meet their changing
mobility needs and be able to rely on a stable and secure power network in the
future.”
“We are pleased to implement this future-oriented pilot project together with
Stromnetz Hamburg,” said Michael Schneider, who heads the Digital Grid Software
& Consulting Segment at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “The rapid growth in
electromobility in cities such as Hamburg will mean heavier loads and a greater demand for high power in the low-voltage network, potentially resulting in network
overloads. Smart, decentralized monitoring and control of private charging
equipment on the secondary distribution network will help provide a fast, costeffective solution for distribution network operators, enabling them to maintain the
high reliability of their networks.”
The project is divided into three phases. The first phase involves testing the
operation management concept on Stromnetz Hamburg’s innovation campus. In the
second step, the findings will be subjected to field tests on the public network, and
the concept will be further refined. Ultimately, the roll-out of a production solution of
the control and connecting units will be prepared.
A digital secondary distribution network is set up as follows: A smart monitoring and
control unit is installed in the secondary substation as decentralized intelligence. It
monitors the low-voltage network and transmits set points to the home charging
station in the event of overload situations to instruct the station to reduce its
charging power. The equipment communicates using Powerline Communication and
ensures that neither personal data, nor data that permits conclusions to be drawn
about the behavior of the vehicle owner are used. The solution is designed to
operate autonomously, without any communication with a central system being
necessary during operation, thus enabling it to be selectively rolled out to the
distribution network in a targeted manner. The use of self-learning processes makes
it possible to minimize outlays for commissioning and maintaining the digital
secondary distribution network.
The digital secondary distribution network will help to maintain the voltage in the
low-voltage network and to avoid overloading. This will be an important factor in
stabilizing the network, not only as electromobility expands, but also when feeding in
electricity from renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaics or with the increased use of heat pumps. The digital secondary distribution network thus plays
a key role in the transition to a new energy mix and decarbonization of the energy
and traffic sectors.
Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI) is shaping the market for intelligent, adaptive infrastructure for today and the future. It addresses the pressing challenges of urbanization and climate change by connecting energy systems, buildings and industries. SI provides customers with a comprehensive end-to-end portfolio from a single source – with products, systems, solutions and services from the point of power generation all the way to consumption. With an increasingly digitalized ecosystem, it helps customers thrive and communities progress while contributing toward protecting the planet. SI creates environments that care. Siemens Smart Infrastructure has its global headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, and has around 71,000 employees worldwide.
Contact
Elisavet-Vasiliki Sachinidou
Siemens S.A.
Agisilaou 6-8
Marousi Athens
Marousi Athens
210 68.64.2671