TMCnet News

Siemens and Utilidata Announce Grid Reliability & Optimization Solution
[February 11, 2016]

Siemens and Utilidata Announce Grid Reliability & Optimization Solution


Siemens (News - Alert) and Utilidata announced today that the companies will offer a best-in-class technology solution to enhance distribution system efficiency and reliability through circuit reconfiguration and topology information switching. The solution combines the functionality of Siemens Distribution Feeder Automation (SDFA), a Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration system, with Utilidata's AdaptiVolt™ software, the market leader in Volt/VAR optimization. Together, the technologies enable automatic reconfigurations in response to faults to incorporate real time information from the substation level.

"By integrating our products, Siemens and Utilidata are able to provide greater value to utilities looking to change and adapt to the realities of today's evolving distribution grid model," said Mike Carlson, President, Siemens Digital Grid US. "Combined, the SDFA and AdaptiVolt™ solutions enable greater efficiency in reconfiguring and managing load, resulting in energy savings and enhanced reliability for utilities."

Both technologies leverage real-time data and automate decision making in distribution load management. Siemens' SDFA automatically locates and isolates faulted line sections and restores service to healthy line sections, making use of pole-mounted devices like the Siemens proprietary 7SC80 Circuit Automation Controller. While SDFA can make automatic decisions for reconfiguration one circuit at a time, the lack of power flow information makes it a challenge to balance load between circuits.

AdaptiVolt™ gathers data from the entire distribution system, and can now share its critical power-flow information from the substation to enable greater efficiency in re-configuring the circuits and help better manage the reconfiguration of the loads through the SDFA. The combination of substation information, information drawn from pole-mounted devices, and SDFA's circuit reconiguration capabilities, all working in tandem, produces greater system enhancement and boosts reliability.



"The ability to extract this kind of real-time data from the entire distribution system will enable utilities to make smarter decisions and realize true value from the Industrial Internet of Things while gaining immediate benefits for customers," said Scott DePasquale, CEO and Chairman of Utilidata. "With three to five percent energy savings, AdaptiVolt™ provides an immediate return on investment, while also maximizing the long-term benefits of smart grid reliability and efficiency."

About Utilidata:


Utilidata®, Inc. is a global software company that works with electric utilities to enhance energy efficiency and grid security. The company's patented technology captures real-time data from the grid giving utilities information needed to save energy, mitigate issues caused by distributed energy resources, and better detect grid anomalies. With major clients including American Electric Power, National Grid and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Utilidata is backed by leading venture capital firms and is expanding across North America, Asia, and the Middle East. The company has a world-class production, research and development facility at its headquarters in Providence, RI. For more information, please visit: utilidata.com or follow @Utilidata on Twitter.

About Siemens:

Siemens AG (News - Alert) (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a leading provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions and automation and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading supplier of medical imaging equipment - such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems - and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2013, which ended on September 30, 2013, revenue from continuing operations totaled €75.9 billion and income from continuing operations €4.2 billion. At the end of September 2013, Siemens had around 362,000 employees worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.


[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]