Siemens introduces software to boost grid flexibility
Gridscale X Flexibility Manager predicts congestion and uses demand-side flexibility to increase network capacity by up to 20 % without building new lines.
Image for illustrative purposes
Siemens has presented Gridscale X Flexibility Manager, a software tool designed to help distribution system operators (DSOs) manage electricity networks more efficiently by using flexibility from connected energy resources. The new tool aims to relieve grid congestion, speed up new connections, and reduce the need for conventional network upgrades.
The software responds to increasing pressure on distribution grids as electrification expands across households, transport, industry and data centres. According to recent industry research, the majority of energy executives view digital grid tools as essential for managing this shift. Flexibility Manager works by forecasting grid bottlenecks and identifying where flexible resources, such as electric vehicles, heat pumps, energy storage systems or distributed generation, can temporarily adjust consumption or output to balance the network.
The system integrates with existing DSO control platforms, monitoring grid conditions in real time. When overloads are likely, it calculates and activates suitable flexibility options through operator interfaces or market platforms. Siemens states that using this approach could increase grid utilisation by up to 20 % and help reduce reinforcement costs by as much as 40 % through targeted investment decisions.
The tool has been co-developed with several European DSOs, including Kärnten Netz (KNG) in Austria, which faces significant photovoltaic growth and associated voltage challenges in rural areas. KNG is preparing for a regulatory move toward market-based flexibility and has tested the software to support both operational planning and future market participation. Other DSOs involved in development include Alliander, Areti, and Elvia.
Flexibility Manager is part of Siemens’ wider Gridscale X platform, which aims to move grid operation toward more data-driven and autonomous decision-making.
Source: Siemens
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