Smart Grid In The Czech Republic: Siemens To Build A Network Control System For Prague's Power Grid

In early February, Siemens Infrastructure & Cities signed an agreement with the Czech distribution network operator PREdistribuce to build a network control system for Prague's power grid. In order to support all aspects of the operations of the Czech distribution network operator, Siemens will implement the latest software version of the Spectrum Power network control system over the next three years. The contract volume of roughly six million euros will be divided up between Siemens and its consortium partner, the IT services provider Atos, which will integrate, together with Siemens, the network control system into the existing IT systems of the distribution network operator.

The new network control system, which will replace the old SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems of the Czech grid operator, will manage the voltage levels of 110 kV (kilovolts), 22 kV and 0.4 kV. As part of the installation process, the 200,000 remotely monitored data points from the high-voltage and medium-voltage network will be extended to the 400-Volt level, for a total of 2.5 million data points, all of which will be mapped in the system. Advanced network calculation applications will be employed to protect the high-voltage power grid against overload outages. In the medium-voltage power grid, applications will be used to localize faults and ensure automatic restoration of the power supply, thereby reducing outage times and considerably improving availability. A modern outage management system will be deployed to support efficient allocation of fault correction resources.

In collaboration with the IT services provider Atos, Siemens will integrate the Spectrum Power system into the existing IT structure of the Czech distribution network operator. The existing databases for SAP applications, geo-information systems (GIS) and customer support will be synchronized with the SCADA system by means of automated interfaces. The German energy utility company EnBW owns a 40 percent interest in PREdistribuce, which is one of the three Czech distribution network operators. The Czech grid operator supplied approximately 750,000 customers with more than 5000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electrical power last year.

Energy-efficient, eco-friendly solutions for setting up intelligent power supply networks (Smart Grids) are part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2011, revenue from the portfolio totaled nearly EUR30 billion, making Siemens one of the world's largest suppliers of eco-friendly technologies. In the same period, the company's products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by nearly 320 million tons, an amount equal to the total annual CO₂ emissions of Berlin, Delhi, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.

SOURCE: Siemens AG