Energy that enchants

Anyone traveling to Lucerne during these days can feel the city pulsating: masks, carnival bands, confetti and thousands of carnival enthusiasts. The Lucerne Carnival is also a highlight for ewl energie wasser luzern. When the legendary Fritschi procession passes by Pilatusstrasse on Schmutzigen Donnerstag, ewl's carnival car is impossible to miss. Carnival-goers can experience the spectacle up close from the car, which is decorated under the motto “Energy that enchants”.

This carnival tradition is very important to ewl because the energy company places a high value on its local roots. Ensuring the future energy supply in the Lucerne region is even more essential for ewl. Large sums are being invested in renewable energies and the modernization of electricity grids and infrastructure, among other things.

Now you may ask yourselves, what does this have to do with Axpo?

ewl is facing the challenge of making its electricity grids fit for the future. This is because electricity demand is rising strongli and the grid must keep pace with the new requirements of increasing centralization. To this end, ewl has developed two target grids:

Target Grid A aims to strengthen the existing transformation services between the high- and medium-voltage grid. Target Grid B, on the other hand, plans to increase the number of high-voltage substations from four to six. Both variants also include a modernization of the medium-voltage grid so that it can transport more electricity.

And this is precisely where Axpo comes into play. Due to the extensive package of measures and the high investments in the grid, ewl asked Axpo Grid's engineers for a second opinion. The aim of the assignment was – in addition to a recommendation for one of the two target grid variants – to assess the security of supply in the event of an accident (several simultaneous faults).

Energy that enchants, or is it calculated?

“We used our own developed ERIS quality indicator to systematically evaluate the target grid variants,” explains Roland Notter, Head of Grid Planning and Grid Technology at Axpo. ‘In addition to the load flow criteria (grid element load and voltages), it also evaluates the grid topology and the condition of the grid elements,’ adds his team colleague, Project Engineer Dominik Amrein.

The collaboration between ewl and Axpo went smoothly, enabling the project to be completed in just a few months. Axpo recommended that ewl choose the Targed Grid A. Thanks to the systematic evaluation, the recommendation is clear and well documented.

Roland and Dominik would like to thank ewl for the trust they have placed in them and look forward to further exciting projects. After all, energy is not only calculable – it enchants.