Stedin
Stedin modernizes its power grid with AVEVA PI System
Stedin, a Dutch grid operator serving more than 4 million customers, wanted to modernize its data collection and consumption processes to anticipate growing user demand and support its sustainability ambitions. The company also adopted the International Electrotechnical Commission's 61850 standard, which sets a global benchmark for communication in generation facilities and substations. Deploying AVEVA PI System, together with custom PI Connectors and PI Vision, enabled Stedin to connect its existing infrastructure to new substations while complying with international standards. The platform improves visibility across all assets and moves the grid operator toward its goal of real-time management. Stedin is thus building a true smart grid that meets regulatory requirements and can absorb future changes in demand, while safeguarding the quality of service delivered to its millions of Dutch customers.
Testimonials
FAQ
How does AVEVA PI System help Stedin build a smart grid that complies with international standards?
Stedin, a Dutch grid operator serving 4 million customers, deployed AVEVA PI System and PI Connectors to modernize its data collection and adopt the IEC 61850 standard. This international standard standardizes communication in substations and generation facilities. The platform improves asset visibility and moves Stedin toward real-time management. This regulation-aligned approach prepares the grid for changes in demand and supports the sustainability of the service provided to customers.
Why is adopting the IEC 61850 standard strategic for a power grid operator?
The IEC 61850 standard sets a global framework for communication in electrical substations, ensuring interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers. For Stedin, adopting it makes it possible to standardize data exchange, simplify the integration of new substations and prepare the grid for future requirements (renewables, electric vehicles, smart meters). AVEVA PI System and PI Connectors orchestrate this integration without disrupting existing infrastructure, aligning technical modernization with international regulatory compliance.
How do PI Connectors make it easier to integrate new substations?
PI Connectors are specialized components that allow AVEVA PI System to retrieve data from a variety of industrial protocols (IEC 61850, OPC UA, Modbus, DNP3). For Stedin, custom PI Connectors link the legacy infrastructure to new IEC 61850-compliant substations. This flexibility preserves existing investments while supporting modernization. It is a major asset for grid operators who must gradually integrate new assets without disrupting the operation of existing ones.
What role does AVEVA PI Vision play in managing a power distribution network?
AVEVA PI Vision gives Stedin's operators customizable, browser-based real-time dashboards covering all of the network's substations and measurement points. This contextualized visualization speeds up decision-making, supports remote diagnostics and democratizes access to data. For an operator serving 4 million customers, PI Vision becomes an essential everyday tool for industrial performance, quality of service and responsiveness to incidents.
How can data management help a power grid prepare for growing demand?
Demand on power grids is growing with the electrification of end uses (mobility, heating) and decarbonization. Stedin is anticipating this shift with AVEVA PI System, which builds a rich operational database that will ultimately feed predictive models of consumption and generation. This data-driven preparation is essential for integrating renewables on a large scale, managing demand peaks and maintaining quality of service. It is the foundation of a truly smart grid on a national scale.