Electricity grids are going digital

Cisco Spain, its local partner Ikusi, and Ormazabal, have joined forces to launch the first of several pilot initiatives devised to “smarten up” electricity transformer stations. The project is currently in the pilot phase in Puerto Lápice (Ciudad Real).

Electricity distribution faces new challenges. Businesses and households not only use electricity, but also feed it back into the grid, while electric vehicles are becoming so popular that charging point infrastructure needs to be built. This all calls for more intelligence, visibility and control of energy demand. The grid operator’s key remit is to measure, manage and regulate energy demand and flow to ensure that supply arrives in the required quantity and quality at any given time.

The key step in digitising the electricity grid is designing and rolling out distributed edge nodes at electricity substations or transformer stations. The nodes collect grid energy generation and consumption information and use specific applications to manage demand and energy peaks. Cisco, Ikusi and Ormazabal have each headed a part of the project, in line with their field of specialisation.

Electrical engineer while working laptopl.

Cisco has provided its portfolio of state-of-the-art network connectivity, as well as cybersecurity tools and expertise to build and secure the distributed computing nodes with switching and gateway capabilities. Other Cisco solution features include management for automating control of software deployed at the edge, as well as network operations.

For its part, Ikusi has been in charge of the integrating the solution that facilitates communication and enables node management. Ormazabal is leveraging on its experience and knowledge of transformer stations and their equipment to develop and integrate applications that will facilitate the optimisation of both the network and the equipment itself

“This project is the first of its kind in Europe. We’re proud to participate through our Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme, which in Spain is known as ‘Digitaliza’ and mirrors our commitment to digitising the country’s critical infrastructures,” said Antonio Conde, Director of Innovation and Digital Transformation at Cisco Spain. “We’re particularly excited about contributing to what is set to be the seed of future smart grids, a key part of national energy transition and sustainability plans”.

“The new dynamic demands of the electricity grid means that it is essential to ensure the stability of the energy flow, which is why one needs visibility of what is happening at all times. At Ikusi we’re delighted to be taking part in this pioneering project by integrating the innovative technologies that will make it possible,” notes Javier Aguilera, Director General of Ikusi in Spain.

For his part, Javier Larrieta, Technology Director at Ormazabal, concluded: “This partnership of three suppliers, who are combining their experience in this pathbreaking technological platform, will be a key driver to guarantee the efficient and cyber-secure rollout of smart grids, which is one of the challenges we’re facing in Spain within the framework of digitising critical infrastructures”.