In today’s rapidly evolving energy market, utilities are ever more dependent on highly accurate and fully up-to-date models of their networks to make critical decisions. This is why Enexis has chosen to upgrade to DNV’s Synergi Gas Automated Model Builder, to carry out feasibility and impact assessment studies to ensure safe and reliable operations as they distribute alternative gasses such as biomethane and hydrogen through their networks.
Enexis Groep of the Netherlands delivers gas to 2.3 million customers and is a long-time user of DNV’s hydraulic modelling and simulation software - Synergi Gas. In response to the constantly changing utility market, especially related to the energy transition, the engineers at Enexis saw the need to become more agile with accurate models of their gas pipeline grids based on the most current information. Due to various factors impacting demand, such as pandemic, insulation, use of hybrid heating pumps and higher market prices, there has been a very different usage pattern, with very little stability.
Previously, their models for carrying out feasibility and impact assessments had been updated on an annual basis and any new modelling, done intermittently, had to be completed using manual updates. In addition, the in-house software did not have the capability for accurate modelling of the most complex situations.
Now, with the implementation and enhancement of Synergi Gas Automated Model Builder, grid architects are given a near real-time network model for analysis, with more accurate results and better support for critical decisions. These decisions can now be based on near-live information, giving additional insights, and enabling improved reporting.
Energy transition brings changes to the grid
“The market is changing very fast and so are customer usage patterns,” says Simon Adriaensen, Grid Architect and one of the primary users of Synergi Gas at Enexis. “As the energy transition accelerates, we have more requests for green gas suppliers looking to supply gas in our networks. At the same time, the pandemic and the new way of working that it brought about, has resulted in changes in customer consumption patterns. Additionally, the escalating gas prices drive more and more households to change from gas to electric heating, resulting in connections being rapidly removed from the grid and a quickly evolving gas network,” he says.
“Therefore, we need more frequently updated, accurate calculations. The files we had were made once a year, and they were not accurate enough. We really needed the new Automated Model Builder to make fast, good calculations that are up to date,” he adds.
The way the Automated Model Builder is being set up, the system automatically updates every model once a week and runs checks to ensure the models are good and valid, based on correct data. This eliminates the need for manual updates. Enexis is currently finalizing the testing phase of the software, which will run live for all users later in the year.
Saving on time and resources while improving accuracy with Automated Model Builder
“The tool is stable, easy to understand, and easy to use,” says Adriaensen. “DNV handed over a complete product, with all the features we wanted to include so it was easy for us to implement without any additional work afterwards,” he says, adding: “It’s a great benefit, to be able to create a model any time you want.”
When asked what features resonate with him the most, Adriaensen says “In addition to automating what were earlier manual, time-consuming tasks, the tool has some really unique features. It looks for isolated pipes and automatically disables them to make a valid model, which I feel is a great feature to have. I also appreciate that we can easily and quickly customise alerts and messages in the tool.”
As thought leaders, Enexis has always kept ahead of the curve, and the robust installation of the software was another trendsetting move. Taking automation and collaboration to the next level, the ICT team at Enexis has developed an install script that ensures that the software is automatically checked every night and in case of any errors it gets automatically re-installed.
Building on years of successful association
Why did Enexis choose DNV for this project, and how do they see their future use of Automated Model Builder? “We wanted to stick with Synergi,” says Adriaensen. “We have been using Synergi Gas for a long time and will probably use it for decades to come.” Hence, when Enexis embarked on the journey to upgrade their model builder, they commissioned DNV to implement Automated Model Builder. Enexis chose to run the tool in their private cloud environment, so as to protect the privacy of their customers.
“It has been great to work with the team at DNV. They understood our vision and requirements very well and were able to configure Automated Model Builder exactly to our specifications,” adds Adriaensen. Since Enexis has already been using Synergi Gas for managing and optimising various assets in their network, Automated Model Builder pulls together all the assets to provide a comprehensive view to Enexis.
Having an accurate and up-to-date digital representation of the physical network is essential for carrying out feasibility and impact assessments with the introduction of novel gases such as hydrogen and biomethane. DNV’s domain expertise in the pipeline industry is undisputed and for over 50 years, Synergi Gas has helped operators design and develop efficient and cost-effective networks and pipeline systems capable of delivering to anticipated demand levels. Now, leveraging the powerful model building capabilities of the Synergi Gas Model Builder® module, Automated Model Builder saves time and cost of regular manual updates while increasing accuracy.
ABOUT ENEXIS
Enexis Groep of the Netherlands, with 4,500 employees, is one of the three largest grid operators in the Netherlands, delivering gas to 2.3 million customers and electricity to 2.8 million customers. Enexis works to ensure stable and reliable grids and to secure the future of the energy supply. The company coordinates and funds initiatives to boost the energy transition in order to make sustainable energy possible.
PROFILE
- Customer name: Enexis Groep
- Web address: enexisgroep.com
- Market: Gas and electric utilities
- Product: Synergi Gas and Automated Model Builder
BRIEF ACCOUNT
Why choose Synergi Gas Automated Model Builder:
- We have been a long-time customer of DNV and users of Synergi Gas software
- DNV is a trusted partner with extensive domain expertise
This is what we gained:
- Grid network models based on near real-time information accurately reflecting the physical pipeline
- Critical decision-making is now based on the most current and accurate models in a fluctuating system
- Models are constantly validated and always accurate
- Savings in time and cost due to automatic updates and more efficient model building
- Enables best working practices