SOGRID experiments in Toulouse (France)

SOGRID, a major technological and industrial research project launched in 2013 in Toulouse, is led by Enedis and STMicroelectronics within a consortium consisting of 10 partners. It has a budget of 27 million euros and is part of a comprehensive approach that aims to develop Smart Grids for the benefit of regions and users.

The project has now successfully gone on to a decisive new stage, at the conclusion of the experimentation in the field conducted in greater Toulouse. For 12 months, 1,000 households in urban and rural areas were involved in this world first, with more than 1,300 connected devices on the electric grid.

Technological success
For the first time, in Toulouse in 2016, an electricity distribution network has become a completely digital network in terms of telecommunications, with the injection of a 3rd-generation power-line carrier (G3-PLC) on the low- and medium- voltage networks.

The telecom signal, tested on a circuit totalling 35 km, is capable of travelling more than 10 km with the most demanding emission levels and the greatest level of sturdiness.

The signal is propagated alone, without any relays, over a distance of 5 km, which indicates that the number of devices can be optimized to cover a large part of the region.

Information is transferred in less than one second, with a very low loss rate of under 1%. So the telecommunication tunnel thus constituted is open and secure at all times.

New features for the network
Experimentation in Toulouse has enabled modelling of low-voltage supervision and state estimation of the grid, extending all the way to the end consumer.

The injection of electricity flows generated by producers or responsible consumers ("consum'actors") into the grid will be managed efficiently by means of this supervision in real time which will guarantee a maximal level of quality. Thus the project meets the requirements of energy transition.

Scientific innovation and R&D
In the framework of the project, no fewer than 5 patents have been registered: 2 for Enedis (synchronization of devices via the frequency of 50 Hz; handover function installed in the telecom IS) and 3 for Nexans (low-voltage continuous supply for electronic communication devices; a process of mounting custom-made devices and/or communication devices on a main power cable; using existing power transformers as coupling systems for PLC MV communication).

SOGRID has also given rise to more than 20 scientific publications, at the instigation of academic partners Ecole Polytechnique and Grenoble INP.

SOGRID: a major project for building the grid of the future
SOGRID aims to create an innovative chain of digital communication on the electricity distribution network, by making the electric grid entirely manageable in real time. With the connected devices developed by SOGRID, which are capable of interacting with each other by means of PLC (power-line carrier) technology, the network reinforces its reliability, its performance and the quality of its service. The sensors that are installed are able to detect any power failure that may occur at consumers' homes and remedy the situation instantly. Besides being an energy transition tool, the system is also designed to integrate new consumer habits such as the production of renewable energy and the growing use of electric vehicles.

Experimentation in Toulouse will enable the future smart grid to be built in France by 2030. On the international level, the new materials developed by the industrial partners will be able to move into a market estimated at over 1.7 billion euros.

"We have honoured our commitments, SOGRID is a collective success achieved together with all our partners. The project is an outstanding demonstration of French expertise in the smart grid industry. We have surpassed what we envisioned in 2013," explains Jean Paoletti, Regional Director of Enedis Midi-Pyrénées Sud.

Furthermore, in late 2016, Enedis will be finalizing the development of a SOGRID serious game, an original tool for presenting the device to elected representatives and economic stakeholders.

SOGRID: partners

SOGRID, launched in April 2013 in Toulouse, brings together 10 partners in a consortium run by Enedis and STMicroelectronics as part of an industrial project with global ambitions.

SOGRID stems from a call for expression of interest on smart grids published by ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency. Initiated in the framework of the Investissements D'avenir programme in 2011, it was validated by the State in 2012. The project has a total budget of €27 million, of which €12 million in financial backing come from ADEME.

The consortium led by Enedis and STMicroelectronics includes:

• Industrialists: Nexans, Sagemcom, Landis+Gyr, Capgemini
• Innovative SMEs: Trialog, LAN
• Academic and research partners: Grenoble INP (G2Elab and LIG laboratories), École Polytechnique (LIX IT Laboratory).

SOGRID enjoys the support of ADEME (the French Environment and Energy Management Agency) through the Investissements d'Avenir programme.