FEATURE
GE Delivers Fully Integrated Solution
to Help ORES Advance Toward a Digitally Enabled Grid
Belgium’s Wallonia region will soon move forward with
the modernization of the region’s multi-utility operational
systems. ORES, an integrated electricity and gas distribution
network operator in the Wallonia region, operates more
than 49,000 km of electrical and 9,000 km of natural gas
networks daily, serving 1.5 million electrical and over
480,000 gas customers, has selected GE Power (NYSE: GE) to
deliver an integrated software solution for the operation of
its distribution network.
As with many grid-operators worldwide, ORES faces the
challenge of balancing the increasing share of generation
supplied by renewables, namely wind and solar, coupled
with supporting modern loads driven by evolving consumer
behavior, such as increased mobile device recharging and
heat pump use. At the same time, ORES remains under
ongoing pressure to optimize operational expenses and
investments. With these challenges in mind, ORES developed
a clear strategy to secure the future of their distribution
infrastructure, including improving network reliability and
implementing smart metering, all while improving their
customer focus and as such, selected GE as their solution
vendor of choice
The utility aims to contribute to improving Belgium’s
energy market through this adoption and implementation
of modern tools, applications and technologies. GE’s cross-
utility solution will span network planning, managing electric
and gas distribution networks, telecom networks, and assets
as well as provide a mobile platform for universal data access
and field automation. The ORES solution will include GE’s
Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), Mobile
Enterprise, Smallworld Geospatial Information System (GIS)
Electric Office, Smallworld Physical Network Inventory and
Smallworld Gas Distribution Office. GE’s solution will allow
ORES to move to a fully integrated IT/OT 1 landscape by
2020.
With the ORES implementation, GE’s ADMS systems will soon
manage approximately 80% of all electrical connections in
Belgium 2.
ORES’ new system will support Belgium’s transition to a
smarter grid, with a roadmap to renewable management,
flexibility market and smart meters and will support the
country’s transition to a 100% renewables-based energy
system by 2050.
www.ge.com
may 2018 Global MDA Journal
35