Siemens Introduces New Distribution Management System for Smart Grids in North America

Siemens Smart Grid has introduced a comprehensive distribution management system specifically developed for enhancing and expanding smarter grids. Spectrum Power™ ADMS (Advanced Distribution Management System) combines SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), outage management, and fault and network analysis functions for the first time on a software platform within a consolidated user environment, the first of its kind in North America. This simplifies workflows and facilitates efficient data management. The system also allows network operators to not only control and monitor their distribution network more reliably, but also track and restore outages and carry out maintenance and repair work more efficiently.

By suggesting remedial actions and restoration processes, the system assists grid operators in isolating and restoring the affected network sections as quickly as possible after a fault. The system also leverages the intelligent use of smart meter data for outage prediction, fault detection and clearance, and for managing distributed energy sources making Spectrum Power ADMS a key component for enhancing and expanding smart grids.

“Energy systems worldwide are facing a growing range of challenges, especially in power distribution management,” said Dr. Jan Mrosik, CEO of Siemens’ Smart Grid Division. “Siemens has developed its ADMS solution for North America to specifically address these challenges and achieve wide-spread build out of the smart grid. Utilities will now be able to make data more actionable, increasing operational efficiency for the utility itself and improving power reliability for end users.”

Since it was developed for integration in a service-oriented architecture (SOA), the system can make use of services and data from other IT systems, such as network data from geographic information systems or load profiles from meter data management systems. In the same way, other IT systems can access services and data in the distribution network management system, like information for customer information systems about downtime in case of a malfunction, or work orders or switching jobs for the workforce management system. The SOA focused design concept allows Spectrum Power ADMS to be integrated efficiently in the user's IT environment, promoting business process optimization and work process automation.

The system provides the grid operator with the right tools to comply with the requirements of international reliability standards such as NERC CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation – Critical Infrastructure Protection) or those of the US federal agency NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). Interoperability standards such as IEC 61970 (CIM, Common Information Model) and IEC 61968 (system interfaces for distribution networks) have also been taken into account in the development of Spectrum Power ADMS in order to facilitate the IT integration of the system in an existing infrastructure.

The introduction of Siemens Spectrum Power™ ADMS solution is the culmination of many successfully deployed distribution management solutions as well as Siemens ability to integrate these solutions with the utility’s existing infrastructure. The fully integrated operational environment available from Siemens enables improved monitoring, control and maintenance for a reliable and efficient distribution network.

For further information on the ADMS solution and Siemens participation at DistribuTECH 2014, please visit www.usa.siemens.com/distributech.

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The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector (Munich, Germany) with approximately 90,000 employees, focuses on sustainable technologies for metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offering includes products, systems and solutions for intelligent traffic management, rail-bound transportation, smart grids, energy efficient buildings, and safety and security. The Sector comprises the divisions Building Technologies, Low and Medium Voltage, Mobility and Logistics, Rail Systems and Smart Grid. For more information, visit http://www.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities.

The Siemens Smart Grid Division (Nuremberg, Germany) offers power providers, network operators, industrial enterprises and cities an end-to-end portfolio with products and solutions to develop intelligent energy networks. Smart Grids enable a bidirectional flow of energy and information. They are required for the integration of more renewable energy sources in the network. In addition, power providers can run their plants more efficiently with data gained from Smart Grids. Software solutions that analyze data from Smart Grids will continuously gain importance. Thereby, the division uses in-house developments in addition to systems from software partners.

For further information please see: http://www.siemens.com/smartgrid