E.ON and PSI Software AG have announced a strategic partnership to deploy a standardized, intelligent network control system aimed at enhancing the efficiency, security, and sustainability of Germany’s energy distribution grid. The initiative, set to be completed by 2029, will unify the control systems across E.ON’s grid companies, marking a major step toward modernizing the country’s energy infrastructure.
The project will leverage PSI’s modular “Control System of the Future” (CSF) platform, designed to streamline operations, reduce maintenance costs, and enable advanced automation within the electricity and gas distribution networks. The CSF platform features a secure, open software architecture that allows for seamless integration of emerging technological advancements, ensuring long-term adaptability to evolving energy demands.
The German Power Grid
Germany’s power grid is one of the most advanced and complex in the world, integrating a mix of conventional and renewable energy sources. The country has been a global leader in the transition to clean energy, with ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions and increasing the share of renewables in electricity production. However, the shift to decentralized energy generation and fluctuating renewable sources, such as wind and solar, has presented new challenges for grid stability and efficiency. To address these issues, Germany has been investing in digitalization and intelligent grid management solutions to ensure a reliable and secure energy supply. In Germany, more than 95 percent of renewable energy such as wind or photovoltaics are connected to the distribution grids. With the heating and mobility transition, millions of electric vehicles and heat pumps will also have to be integrated into the grid in the coming years. To meet these challenges, E.ON is continuously developing its grids and system management.
Integrating Electric Lorries into the Grid
As the transition to electric mobility accelerates, heavy-duty electric lorries will play a crucial role in reducing transport-related emissions. The widespread adoption of electric lorries presents significant challenges for Germany’s power grid, requiring careful management of charging infrastructure and energy distribution. High-powered charging stations for lorries demand substantial electricity capacity, necessitating smart grid solutions to balance supply and demand efficiently. E.ON is actively working on strategies to ensure seamless integration of these vehicles into the grid, enhancing infrastructure resilience and optimizing energy use. Through intelligent load management and grid modernization, the company aims to support the growing fleet of electric lorries while maintaining grid stability.
The Control System Project
“The new, standardized network control system is an essential building block for this and an important step towards standardization. At the same time, a modular system is being created that can be expanded and thus react flexibly to the requirements of the future.” said Harald He
For the successful implementation of the project, PSI and E.ON rely on agile principles and cooperative partnership. PSI will set up its own customer unit, which will work closely with E.ON’s key supplier management. The common goal is to make an important contribution to the reliable, economical and sustainable grid management of the future, with important topics such as sector coupling and holistic optimization of the energy system becoming more important.
“We are very proud that E.ON is relying on its long-standing partner PSI for the implementation of a new and standardized network control system,” says Robert Klaffus, CEO of PSI. “This confirms our strategy of technologically redefining the grid management of the future with the development of our new generation of control systems and at the same time relying on proven modules. In this way, we provide our customers with the best possible support in meeting the requirements of an increasingly dynamic market and energy system.”
