Poland’s Enea Operator implements data-based tool to support investment planning

Enea Operator has developed an algorithm drawing on smart meters and other data to support the planning of decisions regarding network investments.

The algorithm, which was developed with experts from the Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Centre, combines the smart meter data with other data such as from the SCADA system to provide information about the optimal diversification of financial resources based on this real data about the network.

Such data includes electricity quality indicators, loads, network events and voltage profiles, as well as information on interruptions from the SCADA system and data on the network topology.

For example, with data on voltage fluctuations that may result from high generation and saturation with renewable energy sources or load variability, the algorithm can support investment decisions in distribution infrastructure.

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One of the criteria is also the number and length of power outages and important for the final result of the calculations is the volume of energy supplied and the number of consumers, their possible complaints and the costs that result from handling these processes.

“The energy sector is developing very dynamically and over 180,000 renewable energy sources are already connected to our company. Our goal is also to ensure the stability of supply – by limiting power outages as much as possible,” says Magdalena Kordys, Enea Operator’s Vice-President for Financial Affairs.

“Every year, we spend nearly PLN 2 billion [$0.5 billion] on the construction and modernisation of our distribution network, and we intend to increase these expenses even more in the future. Hence the idea to create a tool that will support our decisions on investing in a given area determined by the algorithm.”

The tool is fully proprietary and the only one of its type in Poland’s energy industry.

Enea Operator has almost half a million smart meters in its network so far, with more coming as the rollout expands towards completion by 2030.

From 2025 the tool will be available to eligible employees of the company in the form of an application, where, in addition to data expressed in a tabular form, a ranking of network points will be available on a map.