Germany's 10,000th digital local network station now active
In a significant stride towards the energy transition, E.ON, Germany's largest distribution network operator, has commissioned its 10,000th digital secondary substation. This milestone underscores E.ON's commitment to driving the energy transition forward.
The digital substations serve as the central interface between regional medium-voltage and local low-voltage networks, providing real-time monitoring and facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources and electrification technologies such as photovoltaic systems, electric vehicles, and heat pumps. These smart substations transmit approximately two million measurements per minute to a centralized platform, enabling automated grid operation, enhancing grid stability, lowering congestion management costs, and facilitating advanced services like grid-friendly EV charging.
E.ON's proprietary standardized digital substation design has accelerated deployment to around 500 new units monthly, optimizing procurement and construction processes. This rapid rollout is crucial for scaling the smart grid rollout effectively. The digital substations are part of a broader €6+ billion investment strategy focused on modernizing Germany’s power grid infrastructure, including transformers and cables, which are essential for supporting the growing connection of renewable energy sources and electrified devices to the grid.
The digitalization of distribution networks benefits customers by increasing efficiency and supporting renewable energy. It enables the better integration of decentralized consumers, enabling the control of network-friendly charging of electric vehicles, optimizing the use of existing network infrastructure. This digitalization also enables the rapid rollout of up to 500 new stations per month, further facilitating collaboration with various suppliers and creating synergies, such as faster construction processes.
Two documents related to the digital substations are available: "250729_PM_digiONS_DE.pdf" (76 kB) and "250729_PR_digiONS_EN.pdf" (75 kB).
Operating the distribution networks safely and efficiently requires intelligent operating equipment data. The growing number of PV systems, electric vehicles, and heat pumps increases the demands on the networks. The digital substations address these challenges by providing real-time data, enabling intelligent grid management and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the networks.
In conclusion, the commissioning of the 10,000th digital substation is a significant milestone in digitalizing distribution networks. It marks a crucial step forward in E.ON's mission to support the energy transition, enhance the grid's ability to integrate fluctuating renewable energy sources, increase digital control and observability, and promote faster, cost-effective energy transition infrastructure development in Germany.
[1] E.ON Press Release: "E.ON commissions 10,000th digital secondary substation in Germany" (25 July 2023) [2] E.ON Press Release: "E.ON digitalizes distribution networks" (15 June 2023) [3] E.ON Factsheet: "Digital substations" (June 2023) [4] E.ON Annual Report 2022: "Investing in the future - Modernizing Germany’s power grid infrastructure" [5] E.ON Annual Report 2022: "E.ON's role in the energy transition"
The digital secondary substations, a crucial part of E.ON's investment strategy, bridge the gap between regional and local networks, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources like photovoltaic systems and electrification technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps. The finance sector plays a significant role in supporting E.ON's mission as the rollout of these digital substations is part of a €6+ billion investment strategy. The technology behind these smart substations enables advanced services, optimal network management, and accelerated deployment processes, further propelling the energy industry's digital transformation.
