Smart Grid innovations from the Berlin distribution grid at the belektro trade fair
14.10.2014
From 15 to 17 October, Stromnetz Berlin GmbH, the capital's distribution system operator, will welcome all interested guests to its stand at the belektro trade fair for electrotechnology, electronics and light.
From 15 to 17 October, Stromnetz Berlin GmbH, the capital's distribution system operator, will welcome all interested guests to its stand at the belektro trade fair for electrotechnology, electronics and light. The theme taking centre stage at this year's trade show is the Smart Grid. With the help of lively exhibits, visitors to the trade fair can get to grips with and gain a better understanding of smart grid technologies, which are often inaccessible and complex. Anyone interested in finding out more can find Stromnetz Berlin's stand at
Messe Berlin,
Messedamm 22,
Eingang Süd
in Halle 3.2,
Standnummer 212.
As Germany's leading distribution system operator, Stromnetz Berlin is using paging network technology within a grid control context. With a device known as StromPager, the company is using pager technology – a tried and tested system which has long been used by authorities and emergency services – for (remotely) controlling customer plants from the grid control centre. This technology made its premiere in September this year, when the new Berlin-Britz substation was inaugurated. The service will be rolled out to the entire city region in 2015. In future, StromPager is expected to control some 30,000 load systems such as heat pumps or electric storage heaters as well as generation assets, e.g. photovoltaic systems, in Berlin.
By using wireless ripple control technology, Stromnetz Berlin has found an alternative to the audio frequency ripple control technology that has been used up to this point. The new system has several advantages, namely its reliability, comprehensive grid coverage and low maintenance and operation costs. The roll-out of the system will not require any financial expenditure from domestic customers. The system was developed by Stromnetz Berlin GmbH in collaboration with two other Berlin-based companies, Bosch Software Innovations and e*Message.
Another key subject being addressed at Stromnetz Berlin's stand is the remote control of medium-voltage stations. This new technology significantly shortens the length of power failures. To this end, Stromnetz Berlin is gradually installing smart remote-control technology in approximately 3,000 of the township's customer stations and grid stations, of which there are over 11,000 in total, and will have invested around €30 million by 2023, by which point Stromnetz Berlin expects to have executed the remote-control concept area-wide.
Almost 1,000 stations are already equipped with remote-control technology. When power failures occur in the medium-voltage grid, this technology will allow about half of the affected customers to regain their supply within just a few minutes. This will cut the average length of power failures by half and lead to an increase in supply reliability.