"The necessity of digitizing the distribution grids from the perspective of Mitteldeutsche Netzgesellschaft" On 29 January, after a long break, the tradition of electrical energy colloquia at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science was continued with this topic under the direction of the Vice Dean, Prof. Dr. Stefan Kornhuber.

Martin Schumann explained that the technical foundation for the "smartification" of Germany's distribution grids is being laid in the form of digital local network stations. Due to the fact that the rapidly increasing decentralization of the supply grids is taking place at the medium and low-voltage level and the technical link between the two voltage levels is the local grid station mentioned at the beginning, this is where the work must begin. The digital local network station combines measurement and control technology to ensure permanent transparency of network utilization at the relevant voltage levels. This is very important, as the complexity of the load flow, especially at the low-voltage level, increases with each additional decentralized feed-in point. In addition, digital local network stations offer the possibility of implementing control commands so that switching devices can be moved without the presence of a switching technician. This remote control capability serves to quickly resupply blacked-out grid segments and greatly reduces the duration of supply interruptions.

Over the next few years, the task of Germany's distribution grid operators will be to strategically implement the rollout of digital systems in order to create overall grid transparency at the medium and low-voltage level in a timely manner.