Tomorrow's electricity grids will be intelligent, able to monitor decentralised electricity production, precisely control variations in injections into the distribution networks, and control peak consumption linked, for example, to the recharging of electric vehicles. Smart meters are the first building block in the development of intelligent electricity networks, also known as "Smart Grids".
The Smart Grid is an electricity network that uses a multitude of information and communication technologies throughout the network to provide an optimal view of its status.
Numerous sensors are installed throughout the infrastructure, from large production plants to smart meters in homes. Information is now transmitted in both directions between the network and the operator, enabling more efficient management of the electricity consumed and produced.
A Smart Grid has a number of benefits:
To enable more proactive management of the electricity network, Creos has established its "Smart Grid Vision", based on 5 pillars:
Document
Complete and correct digital documentation of the network is essential to calculate the electricity flows in the network.
Measure
Sensors installed throughout the network guarantee an optimum view of its current state.
Monitor
By monitoring measurement data, alarms and faults can be reported, drawing attention to vulnerable areas. Monitoring can be carried out at different timescales: from analysing historical data to make load forecasts over different time horizons, to real-time monitoring based on data measured in real time.
Decide
If vulnerabilities are detected, different solutions are evaluated on the basis of the available data and a decision is taken to implement preventive action.
Act
Once the decision has been taken, the solution must be implemented, preferably remotely.
As part of the "Smart Grid Vision", a host of projects revolving around the 5 pillars will enable Creos to prepare for the challenges of the energy transition and thus fulfil one of its essential missions: to ensure, at all times, the transmission and distribution of electricity on the power grids.
To speed up and simplify the process of connecting charging points and photovoltaic installations for electricians, Creos has introduced the Smarty PRO application. Smarty PRO helps to improve the quality of documentation.
The Smarty+ dongle enables low-voltage grid customers to access smart meter data in near real time and share it with the grid operator or a service provider integrated into the platform.
Alva is the name of the digital twin of the Creos electricity network, developed with DataThings. It monitors the state of the network and uses artificial intelligence to generate load forecasts.
