Digital Local Network Station

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

“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.

“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

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.

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.

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.