SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa is responsible for converting and upgrading the Isny transformer station in the Allgäu region of Baden-Württemberg, in Germany. The work will be performed while the existing facility is in operation in order to ensure the continued supply security and grid stability. It is expected to be finished in summer 2024. The project encompasses everything from planning and commissioning to the handover of the new installations to Netze BW.

Secure and modern networks for increasing electricity demand

Transformer stations play a vital role in the electricity grid. The energy transition and the rise in the share of renewable energies in the electricity grid, along with greater electricity demand from consumers, mean that the capacities of transformer stations and power lines need to be increased. Netze BW is continuously optimising its distribution network to ensure a reliable supply of electricity throughout Baden-Württemberg. "The energy transition is leading to an increase in the share of renewable energies, for example from photovoltaic systems and wind turbines. This leads to changes in the load flows. For Netze BW, ongoing modernisation of the transformer stations and of the entire electricity grid is therefore an important investment in the future," says Franziska Hiller, the project manager responsible for grid development and project management at Netze BW (East). The distribution grid operator is entrusting SPIE with the task of modernising and upgrading the Isny transformer station, which plays a vital role in the distribution of electricity throughout the Allgäu region of Baden-Württemberg.

Comprehensive range of services

The High Voltage operational division of SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa will be modernising and upgrading the transformer station during ongoing operation to ensure grid stability. This means that private households and large consumers alike will continue to enjoy an uninterrupted supply of electricity.

The experts from the operational division's Schaltanlagenbau business unit in Weinheim will first realise the new, four-panel system on the transformer station premises in front of the existing facility. They will be providing and installing two line portals, two line panels, one single bus system with a double disconnectable busbar and two transformer panels. A new facility housing a medium-voltage installation will also be erected. "The new plant will be set up on the 'greenfield site' in front of the existing facility once the necessary infrastructure is in place," says Philipp Schürmann, the SPIE project manager responsible in Weinheim. "The planned temporary solutions will ensure supply security and network reliability at all times during the project. For example, we'll be diverting the existing cables to free up the site and routing the electricity via field installation cables," says Philipp Schürmann.

A long and trusting partnership

SPIE and Netze BW have collaborated successfully for many years, with SPIE establishing itself as a dependable partner for the grid operator. "We are delighted to receive this new mark of confidence from Netze BW. This project continues our long and trusting business relations," says Dr Klaus Kist, who heads the Weinheim-based Schaltanlagenbau business unit. "Thanks to the outstanding quality of our, our adherence to delivery dates and high occupational safety standards, this project will provide yet another opportunity for us to showcase our expertise."
SPIE is a leading multi-technical service provider in the field of transmission and distribution networks. The company is helping to pave the way toward a climate-neutral future and is a key partner for projects aimed at increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix.