The German distribution system operator (DSO) Stadtwerke Freudenstadt GmbH faced growing demands from decentralized generation and electrified loads on their power grid. The DSO required a comprehensive assessment of necessary grid reinforcements across both medium voltage (MV) and representative low voltage (LV) grids to maintain security of supply through 2045.

The study addressed the impact of multiple technologies converging on the distribution system: electric vehicles, heat pumps, rooftop PV installations, and ground-mounted solar farms.

Energynautics delivered a Distribution Network Development Plan combining advanced modelling with practical engineering analysis:

• Granular load and generation forecasting using custom Python-based models projecting electricity demand and production at the building level
• Multi-technology integration modelling accounting for electric vehicles, heat pumps, and distributed photovoltaic systems across residential and commercial sectors
• Power system analysis utilizing NEPLAN software to simulate grid performance and identify critical grid constraints
• Expansion measure identification determining specific technical interventions required to maintain system adequacy through 2045
• Technical and economic evaluation comparing alternative solutions based on feasibility, costs, and implementation complexity

The study equipped Stadtwerke Freudenstadt with a clear roadmap for strategic grid infrastructure investment:

• A technically validated and economically optimized grid expansion pathway ensuring reliable service delivery
• Staged investment roadmap detailing specific measures, associated costs, and implementation timelines
• Transparent prioritization enabling efficient capital budgeting and regulatory planning
• Risk mitigation through early identification of grid bottlenecks
• Confidence in infrastructure decisions supported by detailed building-level analysis and power system modelling