Under the hood of IAV Optera, automated high-performance algorithms work independently to design suitable structures for medium-voltage grids and determine their electrical parameters. The interplay of algorithms and an adaptive learning process guarantees continuous improvement of grid designs that can handle any supply task – at minimal overall cost.

What can IAV Optera do?

IAV Optera can be operated via a modern web front end. With just a few clicks, projects can be created, input data defined, and the desired optimization functions selected. In addition to load flow calculation and checking all (n-1) fault circuits, IAV Optera can independently find separation points and branch joints.

An integrated route search not only finds the straight-line connection between two nodes, but also enables the exact route paths in a network to be displayed. The network planner can incorporate their technical expertise at any time using an editing function.

IAV Optera was developed in close cooperation with LEW Verteilnetz GmbH (LVN) and Mitteldeutsche Netzgesellschaft Strom mbH (MITNETZ STROM) – this guarantees a powerful and customer-oriented product. As a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, IAV Optera is quickly ready for use – no installation or integration into the customer’s system landscape is required.

Advantages of IAV Optera?

  • Reduced workload for employees: By consistently automating all steps of the process right through to the final result, the system helps reduce the workload for employees and enables strategic target network planning for many distribution network operators simultaneously.
  • Acceleration of planning processes: The IAV servers operate around the clock, even outside business hours. This means that neither IT system resources nor customer teams are tied up. Complete target network studies can thus be completed within a few hours – an efficient acceleration of planning processes.
  • Better planning results: With IAV Optera, our customers can combine the expertise of their network planners with the advantages of automated ant heuristics, thereby achieving even better planning results. Hundreds of thousands of networks can be tested and objectively evaluated, allowing everyone to get the most out of network planning.

What distinguishes IAV Optera from normal network calculation programs?

IAV Optera designs and evaluates structural and topological changes in your network, giving you a preview of possible development paths in your supply area. While conventional network calculation programs only support you by checking the current status and manually implementing countermeasures, IAV Optera is able to plan the necessary expansion and conversion measures in your network independently and automatically.

How does IAV Optera work?

When planning grids with IAV Optera, several high-performance algorithms work hand in hand. A modified ant colony algorithm first generates the grid designs, which are then optimized locally and checked for load flow by a second algorithm. The interaction of the various algorithms guarantees grids that improve with each iteration and are always electrically compliant.

What data does IAV Optera require?

The data requirements depend on the issue you are working on and the functions you want to use. For greenfield planning, IAV Optera requires the following information:

  • Substations and local network stations (locations, nominal voltage, power values) and your planning principles.
  • For brownfield optimization or existing network analysis, IAV Optera requires the following information: Substations and local network stations (locations, nominal voltage, power values)
  • Network loads (load type and load values)
  • Existing lines (start and end points, length, route, costs, electrical characteristics)
  • The scenarios to be calculated (load cases and scaling factors) and your planning principles

The data can be provided in JSON, csv, or xlsx format. This can be done via a simple export from your existing system. We are also happy to offer you the option of designing an interface tailored to your IT landscape, which ensures simple and error-free data transfer to IAV Optera.

Benefit from numerous features

Thanks to automated processes, IAV Optera allows the same network studies to be carried out quickly and conveniently multiple times, each with different parameters. The system designs an optimized interconnection for the target networks and independently checks that (n-1) security is fulfilled. In doing so, Optera naturally follows the individual planning principles of the customer in its network planning. If necessary, the system can also optimize cable cross-sections and adapt them to changing supply tasks. At the same time, our system supports route planning using detailed obstacle detection that registers railway tracks, bodies of water, and nature reserves, for example.

Our testing of IAV Optera to date shows that the software is a very helpful tool in managing our current planning tasks.

Stefan Fettke
Network planner at LEW Verteilnetz GmbH (LVN)

Features at a glance

Determination of the status of the existing network within the shortest possible time for all circuit variants and testing of current networks with regard to compliance with current planning principles.

Systematic investigation of prospective developments in the supply area and their impact on the existing network, as well as identification of tipping points at which network reinforcement, conversion, or expansion projects become necessary.

Comparison of different network variants and possible structural optimizations of the network.

Targeted further development of the existing network and agile preparation for the challenges of the energy transition.

Contact

Kevin Schössow

products@​iav.de LinkedIn

Nick Elsner

nick.elsner@​iav.de LinkedIn

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