The team will also design and monitor substations for the future as well as facilitate the increase in renewable generation.
ERDF and Schneider Electric will develop resources monitoring application, known as StruxureWare Flexible Resources Operation, to determine all the distributed resources on the network down to the low voltage grid.
Schneider Electric Energy Division executive vice president Frédéric Abbal said: "As a world leader in energy management for Utilities and Infrastructures as well as for Industry, Buildings and Residential market segments, Schneider Electric is committed to developing smart grids, and aims at strengthening its broad range of services with software and systems for grid operation and Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS)."
In addition to identifying all the distributed resources on the network down to the low voltage grid, the application will optimize operating and investment costs at network level, through the active management of distributed resources as an alternative to traditional network reinforcement solutions.
ERDF Board chairman Philippe Monloubou said: "By continuing to upgrade and automate the grid, particularly at lower voltages, will encourage renewable energy development whilst boosting service quality.
"It is thanks to close relationships with our partners, such as Schneider Electric, that we have succeeded in demonstrating the effectiveness of smart grids for the benefit of customers and the French industrial sector as a whole. This latest milestone enables ErDF to equip itself with tools to support load management whilst strengthening its quality of services."
Scheduled to be launched by the end of 2014 and operated by ERDF in Lyon, the StruxureWare Flexible Resources Operation will enable the team to consolidate their expertise for developing smart grids.
Image: ERDF and Schneider Electric to develop software for smart grid management. Photo: courtesy of Schneider Electric
