News

Siemens and Utilidata partner on Grid Reliability & Optimization Solution

February 11, 2016 by Jeff Shepard

Siemens 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 reconfiguration 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.”