Smart Grid intelligence
The primary responsibility of energy distribution system operators is to ensure faultless delivery of electricity to end users. Smart Grid Intelligence solutions, based on Aidon AMM provide a unique and cost-efficient assistance for this. By utilising it, network companies get an accurate picture of the state of the distribution network to help with network management and, for example, the planning of maintenance tasks.
Smart Grid Intelligence can be applied at three levels:
- Proactive monitoring: voltage quality and preventive maintenance
- Reactive monitoring: real time alarms for immediate action
- Analysing: detailed information for analysis and problem solving
These together provide a comprehensive grid management solution, which utilises the high sampling frequency of the metering devices, intelligent grid management algorithms and the latest IoT connectivity technologies.
Intelligent sensors in the households
The AMM smart meters installed in each house act as intelligent sensors, which produce information about the consumption point’s situation. Examples of such information are voltage quality variations as well as details of failures or disturbances which may be caused by malfunctioning electrical supply or faulty installations. Intelligent grid management algorithms present in each sensor utilise the data sampled at high speeds to provide a detailed view of the delivery situation. These edge algorithms can detect and trigger automatic messaging when problem occurs or is likely to occur, which provides the DSO’s service team the ability to quickly locate the problem, and corrective action can be taken to prevent eventual accidents and minimise any further damage.
Broader overview with transformation station monitoring
With our advanced transformer station monitoring solution the DSO will get a broader view over the entire low voltage grid. Aidon sensors at the transformer station not only provide status information from the transformer station but can also dual-function for measurement and analytics purposes. This helps in managing the overall state of the quality, quantity and cost of electricity distribution in the low voltage network. For example, management of the constantly increasing micro-production by renewal energy sources such as wind and solar power, set new requirements on the transformer-level distribution grid capabilities. By combining and refining the data from both individual consumption points and substations, network companies can manage their network more efficiently, both in their daily work and over a longer period of time.
Cost savings in daily operations
The benefits of Smart Grid Intelligence can be immediately seen as cost savings in the utility’s customer service. The operations related to fault prevention and fixing as well as reacting to network disturbances are significantly more efficient as less time is needed on troubleshooting and repair work. Moreover, the solution helps DSOs prevent some of the failures from happening at all via early-warning alarms and statistical analytics capabilities. The latest IoT connectivity technologies utilised by the solution guarantee reliable and timely delivery of the monitored data and at its best, a fault in the grid or at a customers’ destination never happens or can be fixed before the customer even notices it. Minimised network outages also means significant savings in compensations to be paid to the customers.
Improved efficiency on the long run
From the grid efficiency point of view a good overview of the network resources is necessary. Monitoring the voltage levels and other parameters at a transformer station and throughout the power line up to the last consumption point reveals eventual delivery quality deviations and their source of origin without separate and expensive quality metering devices. In addition, transformer station monitoring provides information about possible network overload, which, without intervention, leads to premature wear and accelerated failure of the grid equipment. The information obtained both from transformer station monitoring and intelligent sensors in the households helps in the planning of maintenance work and the allocation of new network investments, while improving the overall grid performance and safety.
Loss management enabled by metering at the transformer and in the households gives a clear view on how much of the supplied energy is lost during the distribution. Any loss that cannot be billed from customers means lost income for the utility. Thus, finding and eliminating the root causes for loss, whether it’s a question of a connection failure, theft or something else, results in cost savings.