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Corinex and Plexigrid: Pioneering a New Era in Digital Twin Technology for Electrical Grids

In a groundbreaking development in the realm of digital solutions for electrical networks, Corinex Corp. and Plexigrid S.L. have signed a strategic cooperation agreement. This collaboration aims to roll out Corinex Plexigrid Intelligence, a sophisticated platform designed specifically for low and medium voltage electrical grids. The increasing demand for efficient energy management in an era where electric mobility and decentralized resources are taking precedence warrants innovative solutions that can offer real-time insights and operational flexibility.

The Rationale Behind the Collaboration

As the global shift towards a greener future intensifies, the electrification of diverse sectors—ranging from industry to transportation—is accelerating. Operators of electrical grids are facing unprecedented challenges as they strive to manage and coordinate intricate, bidirectional electrical systems laden with millions of distributed energy resources (DERs). To address these hurdles, an advanced level of real-time visibility and intelligence across electrical networks is crucial. The partnership between Corinex and Plexigrid directly addresses these needs.

Corinex's expertise lies in the physical monitoring and intervention of electrical networks, while Plexigrid specializes in the sophisticated modeling and optimization of these systems. By combining their capabilities, the partners aim to enhance the operational efficiency of public utilities by seamlessly connecting real-time field intelligence with digital twin analytics. This collaborative approach will enable utilities to visualize network conditions, identify available capacity, and proactively address network constraints.

Harnessing Advanced Technologies

At the core of this innovative solution is the architecture facilitated by Corinex's Broadband Power Line (BPL) technology. BPL serves as the backbone, integrating detection, processing, and intelligence throughout the network. Consequently, the digital twin model developed by Plexigrid receives comprehensive and accurate data regarding network assets, drastically improving visibility and control over previously overlooked sections of the grid.

The technological prowess of BPL enhances the potential of digital twins, enabling them to bridge the gaps in network observability. With historically low granularity in data available from legacy utility systems, the challenge lies in tapping into existing infrastructure without extensive new installation costs. Plexigrid ingeniously employs Bayes' AI layer to reconstruct the electrical topology and network state using information from already implemented systems such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). This method results in unprecedented capabilities for monitoring and controlling networks that were previously only partially observable.

The Significant Advantages of the Collaboration

The strategic merging of their technologies results in a paradigm shift in how utilities can manage their assets. Historically, utilities operated within a conservative framework dictated by outdated data assimilation strategies. The incorporation of Corinex's BPL technology allows for rapid, high-resolution performance improvements in digital twins:

• - Temporal Resolution: From 5-60 minutes down to just 1 minute.
• - Estimation Accuracy: Improvements from approximately 90-95% to an astounding 99%.
• - Operational Uncertainty: Reduced from 5-10% to about 1%.
• - Safety Margin Requirements: Decreased from 10-20% to 2-5%.

Such enhancements will yield higher asset utilization, allowing operators to optimize near-real-time thresholds, instead of relying on conservative estimates.

The Future of Grid Management

This collaboration represents a significant step forward for utilities seeking to enhance data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency. Peter Sobotka, Chief Executive Officer of Corinex, emphasizes that utilities require more than just connectivity or cloud-based visualization. They need a layer of intelligence capable of understanding and interpreting evolving network conditions to facilitate agile decision-making aligned with the complexities of modern distribution systems.

The integration of Corinex and Plexigrid’s technologies will not only bolster operational efficiency, but also create a robust foundation for planning, flexibility, and day-to-day operations. Alberto Méndez, CEO and Co-Founder of Plexigrid, points out that this alliance ensures that their models continuously evolve based on high-resolution data from the field, setting a new standard in grid management.

Conclusion

The partnership between Corinex and Plexigrid epitomizes a forward-thinking approach to the transformative challenges faced by electrical grids today. Together, they are poised to redefine how energy resources are managed, delivering a path toward smarter, more resilient, and highly efficient energy systems for the future.