Arbon Energie Use Siemens Software to Design Smart Grid Business Stratetgy

Jointly with Siemens Infrastructure & Cities, the Swiss power provider Arbon Energie AG is devising its future Smart Grid business strategy on the basis of the new consulting and analysis tool "Smart Grid Compass".

Siemens developed this software tool in order to support utilities, cities and building operators in the implementation of an intelligent energy supply network. In addition to strategic advisory services from the Smart Grid experts at Siemens with all their know-how, the emphasis is on analysis of the existing processes and technologies in the power supply network prior to its transformation into a Smart Grid. The aim is to find the best solution for an intelligent network and to build it up professionally with minimal risk and appropriate budgets.

Arbon Energie AG from the town of Arbon on Lake Constance in Switzerland is deciding on its future Smart Grid business strategy in cooperation with Siemens. The structural framework and guidelines are provided in the form of the consulting and analysis tool Smart Grid Compass developed by Siemens. This tool supports the development of intelligent distribution networks in both strategic and technological terms. It analyzes not only network operation, customer service, equipment management and personnel deployment, but also the consumption and generation performance of the existing power supply system. Errors can be avoided as early as the planning stage, instead of having to be put right with considerable difficulty during later setting-up or operation of the Smart Grid.

After taking stock of the existing situation, the tool is used to identify potential in the network for onward development in the direction of a Smart Grid, from which the Siemens consultants (together with the power provider) derive development plans and action to be taken. The next step is to produce roadmaps for implementation of the strategy and further development of the Smart Grid at Arbon Energie. "Our consulting and analysis tool helps power providers to minimize the risks associated with setting up and expanding a Smart Grid. It is an aid in drawing up efficient budgets and in obtaining clearance from the regulatory authorities", stated Jan Mrosik, CEO of the Smart Grid Division of the Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector.

"The collaboration with Siemens is excellent and we are benefitting from the know-how of the experts. Our network analyses look most promising. We are planning to put the findings of the consulting tool into practice as soon as possible, so that we can continue our pioneering role in turning our network into a Smart Grid", commented Jürgen Knaak, managing director of Arbon Energie AG. And this Swiss company is well on the way to that objective: It was back in early 2009 that Arbon Energie started by installing a Smart Metering solution from Siemens, laying the foundation for its future intelligent network. For this, Arbon utilized the Smart Grid functions of the consumption data recording and distribution network automation system AMIS, thereby modernizing its distribution systems and satisfying the reliability and efficiency demands imposed by the liberalized electricity market regulations for the future of energy supplies in Switzerland.

Energy-efficient, eco-friendly solutions for setting up intelligent power supply networks (Smart Grids) are part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2011, revenue from the portfolio totalled nearly EUR30 billion, making Siemens one of the world's largest suppliers of eco-friendly technologies. In the same period, the company's products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by nearly 320 million tons, an amount equal to the total annual CO2 emissions of Berlin, Delhi, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.