Siemens Gridscale X Platform – Siemens has been awarded a six-year contract with Austrian distribution system operator (DSO) Kärnten Netz GmbH (KNG) to accelerate the digitalization of its electricity grid and tackle the challenge of grid capacity in the Austrian province of Carinthia. Siemens’ Gridscale X platform – including LV Insights, LV Management and Flexibility Management functionality – will be deployed and activated for KNG.
Austria’s energy transition is driving significant growth in distributed renewable generation, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other flexible energy resources. At the same time, the ongoing implementation of the Austrian Electricity Industry Act (Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz, EIWG) is expected to accelerate the establishment of local flexibility markets and increase the role of distribution system operators in managing grid congestion through market-based flexibility mechanisms. To support these developments, utilities require the ability to anticipate potential grid constraints, and tools to identify and activate flexibility resources efficiently.
“With the rapid growth of distributed generation, KNG is currently preparing to operate an increasingly complex and dynamic grid. By 2030, photovoltaic installed capacity in Carinthia is expected to nearly double, creating new challenges of congestion and voltage stability,” said Sabine Erlinghagen, Managing Director of Siemens Grid Software. “Using the Gridscale X platform, KNG can create a digital twin of their grid down to low-voltage levels, gaining greater visibility over the grid. They can also start leveraging available flexibility to support more efficient grid operations and the better utilization of existing grid capacity. This real-time visibility allows them to anticipate and address issues before they impact reliability, support the continued growth of renewable energy, and operate the network more efficiently and flexibly.”
“With the challenge of grid capacity in Austria, as well as the shift of Austrian regulation moving toward a market-based flexibility framework, it was necessary for KNG to explore new operational and digital capabilities,” said Eva Tatschl-Unterberger, Managing Director of KNG. “By selecting Siemens’ Gridscale X platform, we will be able to develop a comprehensive digital grid model that identifies potential constraints and supports us with outage and congestion management. This will lead to a number of benefits, including improved utilization of existing network assets, and huge cost savings for KNG.”
Gridscale X for Kärnten Netz GmbH
The network operator has selected three key Gridscale X applications. This includes Gridscale X LV Insights for creating network transparency, Gridscale X LV Management for active grid operation and outage management, and Gridscale X Flexibility Manager for predicting and alleviating grid congestion. By combining these functionalities, KNG is building the foundation for a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable electricity network capable of handling the challenges of increasing electrification and the integration of distributed energy resources.
