NEPLAN | Target Network Planning and Asset Condition Assessment as Basis for an integrated Asset Management Approach


Due to incentive-based regulation and in particular the amendment from 2016, distribution system operators in Germany face increasing cost pressures. Structured asset management can be used as the foundation for a cost efficient use of the grid equipment. As part of this paper, a methodology will be presented for combination of strategic and operative elements of asset management in a holistic investment schedule. On the one hand, the main building block is strategic network planning for identifying the need for action based on future supply tasks, and on the other a structured assessment of the condition of current network equipment. This paper focuses on the methodology and results of the strategic network planning. The methodology for deriving an investment schedule based on status and strategy indices was applied to the distribution grid of Stadtwerke Ratingen GmbH.