Depsys has delivered the first set of its free quarterly grid Health Check reports to power distribution system operator (DSO) customers.
Depsys is a technology company that empowers grid managers to evolve their operations through digital technology. Using real network data collected by its GridEye grid optimisation solution, Depsys has analysed customers’ networks to highlight trends, anomalies and outliers, delivering individual reports that will help them to better understand and manage distribution networks.
Anja Langer Jacquin, Chief Commercial Officer, comments on the launch: “Our goal is to simplify the energy transition for grid managers, to help them improve and maintain operational excellence in the face of the challenges it will bring. Whereas we already do that with real-time, ongoing grid monitoring, we realised that we could use that same data to give grid managers additional insights into how their networks are performing over time. So, we did – and feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Depsys has created the first set of Health Checks on behalf of seven DSO customers in Switzerland, Germany and Ireland. The ambition is to extend the free service across Depsys’ entire customer base – which currently stands at approximately 40 DSOs around the world. Delivered quarterly, the reports will be honed based on customer feedback to maximise their value. Early responses have praised the quality of the graphics in helping grid managers interpret data, and some recipients have already made new inspection plans in response to the data. Over time, the Health Checks will provide a long-term view on grid performance and areas for attention.
Emilie Zermatten, Technical Account Manager and one of the analysts behind the Health Check initiative, says: “There are all sorts of insights these Health Checks can deliver: Where are cables running at near 100% load a lot of the time? Where are voltages close to acceptable limits? Where are power quality events happening most? Answers to these types of questions can help grid managers plan maintenance work and upgrades or adjust their grid management strategies. Ultimately, we aim to help them keep the lights on, evolve their services and extend the life of assets.”
The Health Checks use data drawn from Depsys’ flagship digital grid optimisation solution, GridEye. Unlike standard solutions, which rely on extrapolated assumptions, often from smart meters, GridEye combines intelligent analysis and head-end components with state-of-the-art field units to capture and analyse real-time, real data.
Langer Jacquin adds: “We don’t want to wait to be asked to innovate – a sustainable energy transition is a matter of urgency. We want to give grid managers the tools to make the best possible operational decisions so they can accelerate that transition. That’s why we created the Health Checks and made them free. We don’t know of anyone else doing this.”
Report details for each DSO:
- Provides an overview of both voltage and loading for the last quarter
- Focuses on devices (transformers and cabinets) with extreme performance (highest and lowest values on average over the period of time)
- Pinpoints nodes close or above their voltage limit (+/-10%) or close to 100% loading
- Shows the stability or instability of certain nodes (high loading / high voltage on a few points)
- Highlights nodes with a high number of power quality events