Image courtesy E.ON
E.ON has announced long-term procurement contracts worth over €6 billion ($7 billion) for core components to expand and modernise grid infrastructure in Germany.
The procurement contracts, signed with German and European manufacturers, cover more than 100,000km of medium- and low-voltage cables, digital local network stations, more than 500 medium-voltage circuit breaker systems for substations, and around 29,000 distribution and power transformers.
By integrating these components into the German distribution grid, E.ON looks to connect numerous wind and solar farms and ramp-up electromobility and heat pumps, as well as battery storage systems and data centres.
Commenting in a release was Thomas König, chief operating officer Networks in the Management Board of E.ON, who called their procurement strategy an important part of the grid operator’s commitment to being an energy transition playmaker.
Said König: “Massive investments and at the same time consistent standardisation and digitisation are our central contribution as a grid operator to advance the energy transition in Germany and make it economical.
“In the long term, however, we can only make this contribution if the regulatory framework conditions are right.”
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The selected suppliers include the following companies:
- ABB AG
- BEZ Transformátory, a.s.
- ELATEC Power Distribution GmbH
- ELSIC Elektrische Sicherheitsausrüstungen und Betriebsmittel GmbH
- ENACO Energieanlagen- und Kommunikationstechnik GmbH
- Ernst Wirth GmbH Co. KG
- GRÄPER Ahlhorn GmbH & Co. KG
- GRITEC GmbH
- Hellenic Cables S.A
- Hitachi Energy Germany AG
- Kolektor Etra d.o.o
- Končar – Distribution and Special Transformers Inc
- Lemi Trafo JSC
- NATUS GmbH & Co. KG
- NKT GmbH & Co. KG
- Prysmian
- RITTER Starkstromtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
- Sächsisch-Bayerische Starkstrom-Gerätebau GmbH
- Scheidt GmbH & Co. KG
- Schneider Electric GmbH
- Siemens AG
- Siemens Energy AG
- Starkstrom-Gerätebau GmbH
- Südkabel GmbH
- TELE-FONIKA Kable S.A.
- Transformare GmbH
- uesa GmbH
- Waskönig + Walter Kabel-Werk GmbH u. Co. KG
- Witthinrich GmbH
Standardisation and digitisation
According to E.ON in a release, a central part of the procurement initiative is the standardisation of components.
The reduction of technical variants, says the grid operator, improves the planning and the production processes for manufacturers. In addition, there will be an overall acceleration of grid expansion and modernisation.
With its supply chain, E.ON is also looking to further digitise its grid and system landscape.
In addition to constructing digital local network stations, E.ON will standardise the control systems of its distribution system operators in Germany by 2029. The decentralised energy system requires a new form of grid control that is based more on real-time data.
Digital components ensure reliable grid operation at all grid levels, even with a sharp increase in decentralised feed-in and new consumers.
E.ON says the initiative is based on a new procurement strategy they are implementing for core grid expansion components, collaborating with suppliers to develop solutions and optimise procurement and processes.
The contracts with the suppliers have also been designed flexibly, says the company, to allow for regular product development and the adaption of technical innovations at any time.
