Electrica SA, with the support of the CURRENT Technologies International, has launched the first Eastern European Smart Grid test project in Brasov, Romania. An area located in the historical center of the city was chosen for the smart grid project because of the obsolete electric distribution network. This perimeter consists of seven transformation points installed in different locations.

The smart grid concept, developed internally by Flashnet, incorporates a two-way communications and data management system onto the existing power cables. This solution, which enables data transfer from anywhere on the network to the central management console, aims to increase the quality of the services, reduce network losses and provide a functional infrastructure for telemetry systems.

Representatives of Flashnet and Electrica CA believe the main goal of this initiative is to prove the compatibility between the existing electricity distribution network and the smart grid technology.

“The success of this pilot project will allow future implementation of smart grid throughout the entire city, in a first phase for 5000 to 10,000 residential and industrial customers in Brasov, then the smart meters will be installed at each house in the town. Five to seven million Euros is the total amount required to adopt smart grid throughout the entire city, part of the money being the company's own sources, the rest being drawn in a project financed by structural funds”, said Ioan Rosca, general manager of Electrica Distribution South Transylvania.

The implementation of this smart grid does not require the replacement of the existing network because it incorporates elements of both traditional and modern technologies. The technology used in the Brasov trial includes a medium-voltage data communications network, the online analysis of the parameters of the low voltage transformation points, a PRIME telemetry system, monitoring and alerting software dispatch system, as well as video monitoring and sensors for movement, humidity, temperature, smoke and flood.

Due to increased pressure on European distribution systems to handle intermittent renewables, increased load, and new forms of electricity generation along with new two-way communications and data management systems, the management of traditional energy infrastructures is shifting to real-time smart systems.

The Romanian minister of Economy, Ion Ariton, acknowledges the action plan for the development of smart grid networks in Romania. As a result, the initiators of the smart grid project, Flashnet and Electrica SA, intend to expand this implementation to all Electrica South Translyvania customers within the next 10 years.