More information
Description
Loren Networks Ltd., an ICT and IoT specialist, aims to develop an innovative Electric Grid Control System (EGCS) within the scope of their strategic vision for 2021-2030. Their mission leverages their telecommunications experience to create, test, and launch this IoT solution for the energy sector. The primary objectives include positioning the EGCS as a leading innovative solution for greening the energy sector and expanding its presence internationally, especially in the EU and the Balkans. This project is underpinned by five key actions: manufacturing IoT customer devices, franchising for internationalization, leveraging NB-IoT network infrastructure, launching their IoT e-commerce platform, and strengthening partnerships with leading technology companies.
The project''s core aim is to create an innovative Electric Grid Control System (EGCS) using IoT technology for the intelligent control and monitoring of medium and low voltage energy networks and infrastructure. The system will offer real-time signaling, visualization, and event management for power cable status, environmental data, and cable parameters. It will be accessible through web-based applications, enhancing control and monitoring capabilities. The EGCS leverages IoT principles for accurate cable assessment, data analysis, and reliable monitoring, contributing to the digitalization of electricity networks. Key benefits include increased network reliability, reduced energy losses, extended cable lifecycles, and enhanced overall grid efficiency.
The project also has a strong bilateral component. The Project partner Heimdall power is innovative ,green company in Norway. It is working in the same field, but for the high voltage systems. The mutual interest is to develop the product, created and tested in the project in Bulgaria , Norway and internationally.
Summary of project results
The development of innovative intelligent system - Electric Grid Control System (EGCS) reflects the need for assuring sustainable supply of electricity, increasing reliability and efficiency of operations and grid network development, decreasing energy losses, and giving early warning for problems, that might cause disruption/discharge in electricity supply. The system will prolong the lifecycle of the electricity transmission cables and contribute to greening of operations and higher efficiency due to less stranded energy/increased reliability and capacity increase; maintenance costs optimising; balancing grid during liberalization of electricity producers and enabling green shift; assuring capacity for increased demand due to more electric cars and other energy intensive operations; reduced investment because of optimisation and better use of current network; transparency of grid flow; reduced blackouts or faults, reduced expenses and better investment planning. The system with its scalability will be a step forward utilization of Internet of Things in a sector digital transformation.
The energy industry is experiencing digital transformation like the telecommunication wireless industry. The adoption of renewables, batteries and electric vehicles is changing the electric power grid from one-way, centralised, analogy system to a two-way distributed digital platform (local power resources will become suppliers). It is well known that solutions to the duck curve (graph of power production over the course of a day that shows the timing imbalance between peak demand and renewable energy production) and many other challenges is needed. The existing systems are not designed for this type of demand curve and there is a need of digitalisation upgrade for the energy future. This liberalization and digitalisation of the distribution system and infrastructure creates new business opportunities and needs innovative approaches.
Through the project the company developed innovative intelligent system - Electric Grid Control System (EGCS) as lnternet of Things (IoT) solution for control and monitoring of medium and low voltage energy network and infrastructure. It has been designed to provide signaling, visualization, and event management in case of interruptions and changes in insulation and parameters of cables and infrastructure. The web-based application can be accessed from a dispatcher or any other computer or mobile workstation and provides a quick connection from the main screen of the dispatch or other station to the monitored networks, visualizing the status and possible alarms, receiving data for the terminal devices and sensors.
The Electric Grid Control System is responding to the need for online real-time digital monitoring of the electricity grid, which will prevent disruptions of electricity supply. The EGCS will allow for a reliable assessment of the status of the electricity network and will give an indication for operators when it may be necessary to intervene. This system will cost-optimise maintenance through cable diagnostics.
The main advantages of the new system are as follows:
- Increasing the reliability of the distribution network and the whole system by reducing unforeseen interruptions and overloads leading to accidents.
- Reduction of operating costs through advance planning of repair activities.
- Reducing the cost of repairs due to relatively accurate localization of the problem area.
- Increasing productivity through preventive control of the facility.
- Elimination of the human factor and risk of errors by using highly effective control technology.
- Provides timely information and signalling for network problems, malfunctions threatening
the operability through a two- or three-stage system for visualization of problems and/or changes in the parameters of the cable under surveillance.
- Increase the green effect by reducing the need for materials for repair and replacement of cables.
- Fast and accurate localization of cable events in real time.
- Continuous and excellent real-time visualization - the integrity of cable networks and infrastructure elements.
- Immediate and accurate informing and signalling to the support teams.
- Significant reduction of losses and rapid recovery of power supply.
- Allows remote support, administration and monitoring;
- Web based interface and multi-screen visualization;
- Easy multifunctional and remote configuration of cable networks and infrastructure;
- Providing effective preventive maintenance at an excellent Quality/Price ratio;
- "Plug & Play'''' integration in an already built network;
- No additional intervention is required on the existing and already built cable network;
- High reliability, scalability, automatic back-up redundancy of data and measurements;
- E-mail and SMS notifications.
Summary of bilateral results
The two partners have been sharing experience and knowledge on the EGCS system. The Heimdal Power''s Neurons are intelligent sensors that measure everything from power, line inclination, line vibration, snow load to wire temperature. Using machine learning, Heimdal Power software predicts line faults before they happen, minimises blackouts and makes maintenance more effective. With better control they can optimize the energy distribution. The solution can increase the capacity of the grid by 25%. This also increased line capacity through dynamic line rating / thermal management. It allows for prediction of snow and ice building, location of short circuits or broken lines, diagnostics for maintenance planning and reports for investment planning. It consists of hardware and software The .project has ensured synergy with the product, developed by the Norwegian partner.