The energy industry is at a critical juncture, with German distribution grid operators racing to modernize their infrastructure to support the energy transition. By 2030, an estimated 80% of electricity in Germany is expected to come from renewable sources. Naturenergie Netze GmbH, a Southern German grid operator, is leading the way with a groundbreaking pilot project using digital twin technology to accelerate the modernization of transformer substations.
Rainer Beck, Grid Development Coordinator at Naturenergie Netze, explains, “The digital twin serves as the foundation for our planning, enabling a faster and more efficient upgrade process.” In the past, power grids operated like one-way streets, distributing energy from centralized coal and nuclear power plants.
Today, however, they function as dynamic, two-way systems with decentralized inputs from renewable sources like wind farms and solar panels. This shift requires grids to manage fluctuating energy flows and increasing demand from electric vehicles and heat pumps, all while ensuring supply reliability and frequency stability.
Naturenergie Netze is tackling this challenge with a pilot project at the Rheinfelden transformer substation. A digital twin—a virtual representation encompassing both primary and secondary technology, as well as building infrastructure—forms the cornerstone of the new approach. The project involves collaboration with software providers Entegra and Eplan, leveraging their expertise to integrate systems and streamline processes. “Digitally combining primary and secondary technology in a unified model is a first for the industry and promises significant efficiency gains,” notes Matthias Schuy, Business Development Manager at Entegra.
The digital twin methodology has reduced preliminary planning time significantly and is expected to expedite the physical modernization phase. By integrating primary technology data from Entegra’s primtech software with secondary systems planned using Eplan’s tools, the project ensures a seamless and unified approach.
Naturenergie Netze is also prioritizing standardization in transformer substation designs, using the digital twin as a template for creating repeatable and efficient solutions. According to Beck, “The ability to create standardized concepts for the 110 kV range will drastically reduce planning time, enabling us to meet growing modernization demands.”
The collaborative project sets a precedent for other grid operators, showcasing how digitalization and innovative partnerships can drive efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in energy infrastructure. Eplan and Entegra are at the forefront of engineering solutions, specializing in software tools that enhance efficiency and integration across electrical and automation disciplines. Their collaboration with Naturenergie Netze demonstrates their commitment to advancing grid modernization and supporting the energy transition.
EPLAN specializes in delivering cutting-edge software and service solutions for electrical, automation, and mechatronic engineering. Renowned as a global leader in design software for machine and panel builders, EPLAN supports companies in optimizing complex engineering processes. Its robust solutions include standardized and customizable interfaces to ERP and PLM/PDM systems, ensuring seamless data consistency throughout the value chain. By fostering collaboration across engineering disciplines, EPLAN empowers businesses—big and small—to enhance efficiency and leverage expertise effectively.
Serving over 61,000 customers worldwide, EPLAN is dedicated to advancing integration and automation in engineering. Through the EPLAN Partner Network, the company collaborates with partners to develop open interfaces and ensure seamless system integrations, delivering on its mission of “Efficient Engineering.”
Founded in 1984, EPLAN is part of the Friedhelm Loh Group, an owner-operated organization with 12 production sites and 94 subsidiaries globally. The group employs 11,600 people and reported revenues of €2.6 billion in 2019. Recognized for its employee-centric approach, Friedhelm Loh Group has been named a “Top German Employer” 13 times consecutively and honored as a “Top Vocational Trainer” in a study by Deutschland Test and Focus Money.
