Future-proofing distribution grid management for Elvia

As a key step in their digital transformation, Norwegian DSO Elvia used our Gridscale X portfolio to create a Digital Twin of their low‑voltage grid. By generating insights from diverse data, Elvia now maximizes existing infrastructure and accelerates the energy transition.

Boosting transparency, capacity and efficiency

Elvia, Norway’s largest power grid operator, is responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing a power grid that covers an area slightly larger than Denmark. As many European DSOs, Elvia is facing numerous challenges from the rising demand for energy and the energy transition with an exponential increase in distributed energy resources. Already today, Norway has the highest penetration of heat pumps and electronic vehicles sales worldwide. Facts that underline the demand for grid expansion – which takes time and is limited by various factors. Gridscale X LV Insights enables Elvia to take precise investment decisions and squeeze more usable grid capacity out of the existing infrastructure. The Digital Twin of the low-voltage grid provides reliable insights and real-time transparency for multiple departments.

Managing rising grid complexity

High DER penetration increases data volume and low‑voltage complexity. With a digital twin built from existing data, operators gain the visibility needed to detect issues earlier and steer the grid more confidently.

Expanding hosting capacity faster

As demand for PV, EVs and heat pumps grows, hosting capacity must rise quickly. A unified digital grid model helps operators identify available capacity, optimize assets, and accelerate expansion without new build‑outs.

Securing stable grid operations

Fluctuating infeed and unpredictable consumption challenge grid stability. Cloud‑scalable, secure software integrates smoothly with existing tools, ensuring reliable power quality even under dynamic conditions.

Siemens LV Insights X for grid management

Keeping customer satisfaction high

Many Elvia customers can be considered ‘prosumers’ – not only consuming energy but producing, storing, and feeding it back into the low-voltage grid. Along with a growing number of large solar and wind parks, these developments make the distribution grid more volatile and a lot more unpredictable. It was high time to turn this ‘black box’ into a transparent data powerhouse that allows the DSO to detect faults before the customer calls to report them.

By using LV Insights, Elvia is able to leverage the full benefits of the Siemens Xcelerator and the Gridscale X portfolio as it seamlessly integrates into its existing system landscape, including Spectrum Power™ 7 ADMS. It allows them continuous innovation and smooth updates without user disruptions.

Unified grid model as source of truth

Due to the heritage systems in place, data and information were stuck in certain departments. Using LV Insights’ grid model building capabilities, Elvia created a complete and unified grid model that serves as a smart data translator for all departments within Elvia. Information that historically was contained in the control room can now be shared with many more stakeholders. But this is not the only advantage as Jørgen Sivertsen Åsrud, Control System Engineer for Elvia states: “Our grid model maintenance is heavily reduced, and we are able to handle voltage outages in a more efficient and automated way.”

Two grid operators view system status on a computer.

Working with Siemens, we deployed an advanced and future-proof product that will help us to accelerate and handle the energy transition. With increased flexibility and oversight over our grid, we can now manage our low-voltage system in a much more efficient manner – from planning to operations and maintenance.

Erik Jansen, Head of Grid Operations, Elvia

Explore the grid solutions behind Elvia's success