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Digital Local Network Station

The digital local network station (dLNS) is more than a local network station equipped with measurement technology. It is a solution made by and for network operators that will grow to meet future challenges as they arise. The dLNS combines efficiency and safety with profitability and sustainability into one – all for networks and network operators. It definitively satisfies the desire for (and duty to provide) a concrete and profitable digitalization strategy – with flexible, well-thought-out and field-proven measures that create transparency.

From Telecontrol to Data Processing in Digital Local Network Stations

The digital local network station enables the control of charging points and renewable energy systems. At the same time, it prepares data and makes it available for network planning, calculation and simulation, for example. The many forms of resulting added value allow network operators to act with foresight. In addition, local network stations are the last public access point in distribution networks.

Mastering Decentralized Challenges Decentrally

The concept of the digital local network station follows the approach of solving decentralized challenges in a decentralized way. This is because the energy transition, the feeding of energy in and out of grids, is decentralized. At the same time, the dLNS is reacting to legal and regulatory developments, such as the increase in renewable energies in the network, eMobility, digitalization and other changes. With the dLNS, distribution network operators can optimize their network and meet the efficiency increase required by the Federal Network Agency.

Your Benefits:

  • Condition-based maintenance

  • Economical network planning

  • Minimized supply interruptions and network losses

Learn More in Pilot Customer Projects and Expert Interviews

From the Intelligent to the Digital Local Network Station

“The digital local network station has evolved from the intelligent local network station,” says Daniel Wiese, Market Manager for Energy at WAGO, “since the concept of the intelligent local network station basically just involves commands being transmitted from the network control room and processed in the local network station, for example, to remotely activate a load disconnector switch. While this disconnector is activated, the response is collected at the same time and transmitted to the control room, conveying the message ‘yes, switched’ – but that’s all. Data from measuring devices like short circuit/earth fault direction indicators is also transferred. That’s not particularly intelligent,” explains Wiese. The digital local network station can do all that – and much more.

Practical Use, Not a Research Project

“In the digital local network station, a great deal of measurement data is gathered – from both the medium-voltage and low-voltage ranges. That’s not necessarily new, either,” Wiese openly admits. However, what’s new is that the data is used for network calculation on site and processed intelligently, so it can be used in many different departments of a distribution network operator. He considers it important to emphasize that this concept is not a theoretical research model merely being tested without hopes for commercial success. “Digital local network stations are already being used by distribution network operators and municipal utilities. The relevant tradespeople, technicians and engineers have been involved in the initial development, as well as subsequent development through real-world use.”

Application Examples

To illustrate the concept of the digital local network station, Daniel Wiese selects two of the many different application areas of network operators:

  • Identifying and immediately exploiting existing network capacities

  • Anticipatory network planning through sensible asset management

Existing Network Capacities Allow Load Management

This is how Wiese describes the added value of the digital local network station for network management: “First of all, the network management is notified of important limit violations, which are freely definable. However, the data collected and calculated can also be used, for example, to define limiting values and ‘guide rails’ for a specific voltage or current.” These defined ‘guide rails’ make it possible to actively control decentralized assets such as charging stations or CHP plants directly from the network station, facilitating load and generation management. “Existing network capacity becomes visible and usable immediately. And that’s real intelligence, which forms the basis for a cell-based network,” says Wiese with conviction.

Asset Management: More Knowledge for Network Planning

The digital local network station can also benefit network planning. “The network data is pre-processed according to the network operator structure or requirements in such a way that it can be incorporated directly into the network planning. And more knowledge also means more precise calculation and less estimating,” says Daniel Wiese. This circles back to a point of contention among distribution network operators and municipal utilities: planning for new network territories, their network load and the necessary technology – this is currently based on available load profiles, many of which stem from the 1970s and 80s, and were calculated using worst-case scenarios. “But the world, and especially the energy industry, has changed immensely – even just the addition and expansion of decentralized energy generation, especially on the low-voltage level.”

However, the digital local network station allows those responsible to generate new load profiles online. “For the application case of a new network territory, the network planner then looks at a digital local network station in a network territory that resembles the new one being planned. From there, the planner can take the current load profiles and use them for calculations. And that provides me with optimal network planning because it's the result of network calculation based on real data.”

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The digital local network station functions as a data collection point with a coordination function on the distribution network level. This requires telecontrol hardware. Software makes it possible to pre-process the data from both the medium-voltage and the low-voltage ranges, in the local network station itself based on the various tasks and user groups of the respective network operator.

Meeting Regulatory Requirements

Last but not least, Daniel Wiese is also sold on the concept of the digital local network station because it contributes to meeting regulatory requirements on network operators and municipal utilities that demand increased efficiency. “With the digital local network station, distribution network operators can, for example, achieve economical target network planning, implement condition-based maintenance and also minimize power outages and grid losses.”

The local network station is perfect for this, “since it is the last access point with certain space reserves for the network operator.” It also embodies a good consensus based on both real measurement data and estimates. Furthermore, the digital local network station solution concept is designed to grow easily along with future requirements and challenges, and do so in both a modular and flexible way. New software modules are being planned and implemented to meet many of the challenges of the future.

Topics, Customer Applications and Interviews

Find more information and experiences with the digital local network station in related articles

Knowing Instead of Estimating – A Discussion Between Two Network Experts

How and why the NGN NETZGESELLSCHAFT NIEDERRHEIN MBH exchanges estimates for real knowledge with the digital local network station is explained by two network experts, Hans-Werner Leenen and Martin Breitenbach, in an interview with WAGO.

The Important Role of Distribution Grids in the Energy Transition

It’s up to the distribution network operators to direct the energy transition. They should make their networks stable and efficient – all within a very tightly regulated framework. But how is that possible in a technically efficient and economical way?

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Products & Topics

Learn More About Products and Topics Around the Digital Local Network Station

PFC200 Controller

Simplify the engineering, control and visualization of your projects with the PFC200 Controller thanks to CODESYS (CODESYS V3) and Linux®.

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WAGO Grid Management Improves Network Operation

Better network status assessments, resource-saving network coordination, efficient grid expansion: The WAGO Grid Management system solution helps network operators optimize network operation via digital local network stations – both today and tomorrow!
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Additional service offerings:

Secure Connection to the Energy Transition

The main objective of the power generation and distribution industry is ensuring power supply safety and reliability. WAGO products provide the greatest degrees of safety and quality. We have a complete line of products from electrical interconnection technologies to automation solutions.
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Modernization on All Levels

Automation of energy grids has many advantages. The advantages include the possibility of monitoring and remote control. WAGO has the right solutions.
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Stable Power Supply with Sun and Wind

An increasing energy supply from mercurial regenerative sources changes the need for system services and requires greater flexibility in energy supply. WAGO supports grid operators who intelligently link and control renewable power.
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  • Acquisition and monitoring of energy data
  • Communication via telecontrol protocols
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  • Energy storage management

Power distribution

In order for renewable energy to be transmitted freely and distributed safely to even the smallest branch, the power grid must be modernized. WAGO offers several solutions for this:

  • EEG-compliant feed-in management
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