Q&A with Siemens’ Global Grid Software Business CEO

Grid software enables grid operators as well as industry and infrastructure companies to accelerate and secure the energy transition in a sustainable and profitable way. 

But how does it work? By connecting the physical and the digital world with an integrated OT and IT landscape, grid software design principles of modularity, openness, user-centricity, interoperability and resilience.

Dr Sabine Erlinghagen is CEO of Siemens Grid Software and is a firm believer in how grid software increases grid capacity at speed and scale, digital transformation and the energy transition.

She says that with a seven-fold increase of distributed energy resources (DERs) and a tripling of electricity demand worldwide by 2030, power utilities are facing enormous pressure and increasing complexity.

To combat this, they must effectively cope with complexity introduced by the rising number of DERs and add grid capacity fast — all while ensuring unwavering reliability  

In response to this sharp increase, Siemens has launched Gridscale X, forging a path towards autonomous grids.

With Gridscale X, Siemens provides modular software to support utilities to tackle their most pressing challenges related to the energy transition. 

Here, Sabine explains how Gridscale X makes it possible to scale grid capacity fast, handle the complexity of DERs and increase grid flexibility with software that is easy to deploy and fast to integrate into existing IT and OT landscapes — and how this ushers in a new era of grid management while adding increased value through planning, operations and maintenance.

Q. In your own words, what is Siemens and what role does the Grid Software business play within it?

At Siemens Grid Software, we are the partner for power utilities to accelerate and secure the energy transition in a sustainable and profitable way. By paving the way for autonomous grid management, we empower grid operators to accelerate digital transformation easier, faster and at scale.

Q. How do you and the team at Siemens aid the need for increasing grid capacity at speed and scale, digital transformation and the energy transition as a whole?  

To address the pressing need for more grid capacity, we need to fundamentally rethink grid management.

With Gridscale X, grid operators can scale grid capacity, distributed energy resources (DERs) and customer satisfaction fast, accelerating and securing the energy transition while keeping grids stable.

Q. What are the key technological innovations or advancements incorporated into Gridscale X that enable grid operators to increase grid capacity rapidly and efficiently, particularly in the face of the escalating complexity introduced by DERs?  

Gridscale X paves the way for autonomous grid management, empowering grid operators to solve their most pressing challenges. Gridscale X includes modular software that is easy to deploy and fast to integrate into any existing IT and OT landscape, while increasing the efficiency and reliability of utilities' operations. 

Most recently, we launched Gridscale X Protection Data Manager and Gridscale X Dynamic Line Rating. Gridscale X Protection Data Manager is an essential tool for grid operators grappling with the challenges of growing grid complexity and data overload. Gridscale X Dynamic Line Rating maximises the utilisation of the transmission grid amid the rising number of renewable generation sources.  

Q. Could you elaborate on the integration process of Gridscale X into existing IT and OT landscapes?  

All Gridscale X products are a part of Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform that enables customers to accelerate their digital transformation easier, faster and at scale.

As part of this, all the products are developed with the core design principles of interoperability, flexibility, openness, availability as a service, and the highest level of cybersecurity.

With an open ecosystem of partners with complementary technologies, Gridscale X is easy to deploy and fast to integrate into any existing IT and OT landscape. 

By working together with our partners, such as Esri or Copperleaf, we can deliver the best solution to our customers.  

Q. What are the most critical challenges for grid operators in achieving autonomy in grid management and how does Gridscale X address these challenges?  

With the electrification of everything, there is a need to increase grid capacity fast. Furthermore, the rapid growth of DERs makes it much more complex to operate grids in a stable and economic way.

For utilities to move towards autonomous grid management, the energy sector must embrace innovation, digitalisation and sustainability by investing in clean technologies, renewable energy and smart grid solutions, which will accelerate the energy transition.

Gridscale X can certainly pave the way towards autonomous grid management — but it is just one piece of the puzzle. To reach net zero, we will need to work together. Strong collaboration between the public and private sectors will be essential for Europe to lead the global energy transition.

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