Network control center: the key to secure energy supply
Network control stations are the digital nerve center of the energy transition. As critical infrastructures, they fulfil key functions for the security provided by electricity, gas, water and district heating. Thanks to real-time monitoring of the networks and systems, employees in the control centers of municipal utilities and energy suppliers ensure that disruptions are ideally dealt with proactively. This requires technically and ergonomically innovative solutions that ensure secure and convenient access to network control technology, systems and processes.
Fast troubleshooting has top priority at the network control center
Errors in the network control center can have fatal consequences! Hundreds or even thousands of households are affected if the control station of a municipal or private energy supplier reacts too late to impending faults. As a result, homes suddenly remain cold or there is no more electricity. Supply failures are often due to a lack of visualisation. Constant monitoring becomes a challenge for the operator in the network control center. There is a lack of overview. Inefficient handling of the systems also slows down time-critical decision-making.
The dominant theme for planning a network control center: Fast reactions are achieved through an optimised overview and efficient handling of the network control technology. The main requirements for work in the monitoring station therefore include large-screen and KVM systems as well as a customised ergonomic concept.
Maintain an overview in a tense situation. Assess situations correctly and react accordingly – before disruptions affect industry or the population! A fail-safe network control center from JST fulfils all the requirements for this. Specialised software allows proactive handling of the monitor walls. An intuitive operating platform leads to shorter response times. Ergonomic furniture creates the basis for highly focussed work – even in 24/7 shift operation.
Four utility companies under one roof: remote access over long distances makes it possible in northern Germany to bundle the tasks of four municipal utilities in a single network control center. Stadtwerke Steinburg GmbH supplies around 79,000 households with electricity, gas, water and district heating.
Five good reasons for a network control center made by JST
Efficient: Proactive alarm visualisation reduces response times and stress for the operator
Clear overview: KVM solutions minimise input errors by colleagues in the control center
Ergonomic: modern equipment creates an attractive working environment
Fail-safe: Redundancy options create significantly improved security
High quality: Robust quality furniture for network control centers “made in Germany!”
Diversification strategies in the energy sector are making network control centers more and more important – and giving them more and more tasks! Whether electricity, gas, water or district heating lines: control centers ensure grid stability and, with the expansion of photovoltaics, wind power and decentralised systems, must increasingly integrate and coordinate volatile energy sources. This expansion of processes causes power fluctuations, which are recognised and compensated for in the network control center. New control mechanisms for the grid control system and close monitoring of the network are required. The role of the operator is becoming increasingly relevant. Innovative KVM systems support them in their work to ensure security of supply.
Dynamics and flexibility are among the factors that are important for employees in network control centers. Battery storage, load management, smart grids and AI-supported forecasts – these technologies have become promising options in recent years for avoiding bottlenecks, disruptions in operation or power outages. They provide support in the area of energy generation systems, in the charging infrastructure sector for e-mobility and also for the electricity requirements of heat pumps. This enables the efficient integration of these systems into the network.
LED walls or optional LCD monitor walls clearly display all connected processes for the entire team in the control room and allow them to react flexibly to dynamic changes in the supply.
The kick-off for the new network control center takes place in the control room simulator 2.0, the unique ‘room of the future’. This is where delegations from municipal utilities, energy suppliers, network providers and operator colleagues come together to put the JST solutions through their paces. Project, goals and budget are defined in a virtual meeting or live on site. This is followed in the planning phase by on-site meetings directly at the customer’s premises and web meetings to define customised solutions for controlling the network management, visualisation and ergonomic workstations. Photorealistic 3D images and film trailers help in the decision-making process. Climate, acoustics and lighting planning are also part of the ‘all-around carefree package’.
A look at our projects: When it counts, technology from JST makes the difference
Almost three decades of control room expertise – that’s what we stand for! With hundreds of great projects. JST installations – these are network control centers of municipal utilities, integrated network control rooms, control stations of energy suppliers and grid providers, operations centers that monitor transformer stations and substations, high-voltage and district heating systems – in short: all those that ensure security of supply and network operations. Our photo gallery gives an impression of what it means to work with the leading control room specialists.
Image 1 | At TraveNetz GmbH‘s cross-utility network control center, employees are responsible for controlling all grids for the supply of electricity, systems for gas, water and district heating in the Lübeck region. The work in the monitoring center is supported by state-of-the-art IT infrastructure for future-proof network operation.
Image 2 | The network control center of Stadtwerke Steinburg is one of the critical infrastructures. The supply systems covers almost 80,000 households that are delivered electricity, gas, water and district heating. The workstations in the control room have flexible access to monitor and control the lines of four network providers, which come together under the roof of the control center.
Image 3 | The operation of the network control center in Bad Nauheim, Hesse, benefits significantly from the flexible control offered by the KVM system MultiConsoling® from JST. The operators at ovag Netz GmbH can access any supply system from any workstation. In addition, the colleagues are supported in the fulfilment of their tasks by an automated alarm system – 365 days a year, 24 hours a day!
Image 4 | Outsourced technology in a secure supply room: the employees in the control room of energy supplier RWE Generation in Maasbracht (Netherlands) are not affected by noise or heat generated by the systems at their workstations. An additional advantage of outsourcing: there is sufficient space to integrate new systems into the supply network.
Image 5 | Better overview, fewer incorrect entries: With the JST CommandPad®, employees have direct access to all systems. The energy supplier SachsenEnergie from Dresden (formerly DREWAG) has completely modernised the control room at the ‘Nossener Brücke’ combined heat and power plant site together with the JST control room professionals. The declared aim: to guarantee the security of supply of tomorrow!
Image 6 | The tasks of three individual locations bundled in one central control room: At energy supplier RWE Power AG, the JST user platform myGUI® can be used to connect all sources to any desired workstation as required. Faults are automatically displayed with the PixelDetection® software. Changing workstations is obsolete. Stress is reduced. Colleagues in the control room benefit from centralised operational monitoring.
Image 7 | Designed so that other climate-friendly energy generation systems can also be easily integrated: the control center of Stadtwerke Schwerin. District heating, biogas, geothermal energy – modern and scalable JST technology serves as a secure basis for future diversification in the energy sector.
Image 8 | Four individual video walls have been installed in the TraveNetz network control center in Lübeck. Each workstation is responsible for the safe operation of the systems and networks in one of the areas of electricity, gas, district heating and drinking water supply. For the control of process management, office computers, building technology etc., only one mouse and keyboard are required per workstation.
Image 9 | Ergonomic workstations with electromotive height-adjustable control desks are part of the extensive equipment in the network control center of ovag Netz GmbH. A key aspect of the control center equipment is the creation of an environment that allows the operator to work in a stress-free and focussed manner.
Image 10 | All screens and the large display wall in view – for operators in the network control center of Stadtwerke Steinburg, a fault cannot be overlooked: The red AlarmLight proactively raises the alarm and thus reduces response times.
Image 11 | In the event of a power failure or a major fault, the people responsible for the network providers come together in the meeting or crisis room. By controlling the network management system with the KVM technology MultiConsoling® from JST, all those present have access to the applications in the control center and can get to the bottom of problems in the supply network directly (here: TraveNetz conference room, Lübeck)
Electricity there, water sector here and then also gas and district heating – operators in network control centers have to keep an eye on complex applications for network capacity and stability. The KVM solutions JST MultiStreaming® and MultiConsoling® provide valuable assistance. The systems put an end to cumbersome changes of location and the flood of mice and keyboards at workstations.
The video wall and workstations are connected to remote computers in the technical room. The target sources can be switched to any monitor in a flash and operated directly using a single mouse and keyboard. The integration of new recipients and power generators through continuous grid expansion and the integration of new technologies can also be easily realised.
Operators in the control centers of municipal energy suppliers have a wide range of tasks: Stable network operation requires continuous monitoring of a wide variety of parameters. Faults must be identified, analysed and rectified. Control and switching are just as much a part of their domain as monitoring and evaluating data – and all of this with advancing digitalisation and increasingly complex systems. The PixelDetection® software from Jungmann Systemtechnik, which was specially developed for control rooms and is already in use in hundreds of control centers, offers real relief in this regard. Using pre-defined parameters, the monitoring tool proactively warns the operator at exactly the right moment – before an impending fault escalates into a critical alarm.
Employees in the control stations of municipal utilities and energy suppliers are supported by the unique myGUI® platform, which mirrors the architecture of the control room. JST’s graphical user interface makes operating the control center technology child’s play.
Operators intuitively access all source computers. With just one click, they can control workstations, large screen walls, network control technology applications, cameras, meeting rooms and much more via the KVM system. Pre-defined icons establish the connection to the desired sources and functions. Access via the myGUI® 3D user interface takes place in real time – either on a selected monitor or directly via the specially developed JST CommandPad®. This significantly reduces response times.
Ecological restructuring and diversification of the energy market are progressing. The number of smaller plants with sources such as solar, wind, geothermal energy etc. is increasing. Centralised control of decentralised infrastructures is necessary. The high-performance and scalable KVM solutions from JST provide the right answer for monitoring, controlling and fault clearance of these structures in real time.
Operators have access from a central network control center. Heterogeneous systems are integrated into a standardised user interface regardless of the system or software. Complexity of tasks and risk of errors are reduced. Network stability and availability increase. User access is managed centrally, which also minimises the risk of cyber attacks.
Technical advantage through JST components: Efficient alarm management reduces stress and response times
Respond quickly and efficiently to alarms and initiate the necessary measures! In the event of supply interruptions due to a power failure, faults in the district heating network or other problems with network management, the control center must take action immediately. However, in the course of a day, large quantities of messages about pressure, temperature, flow rate or voltage are received by a control station. Within seconds, employees have to record and prioritise important information, make decisions and coordinate emergency services. This multitasking causes stress. Modern technical systems can counteract this.
Effective sound absorber with alarm function: OPAL X11®
This practical solution measurably reduces noise pollution caused by sound: the acoustic ceiling sail OPAL X11® not only acts as an effective sound absorber in the control center. It also optimizes lighting during shift work and can be used as a source for audiovisual alarms if required.
When alarms seem to magically switch on
Computers and cameras that switch on automatically as if by magic in the event of an alarm? In combination with special interfaces, the DisplayWalls from JST make such event-controlled scenarios possible. Another advantage: the entire team is alerted at the same time. No alarm is lost!
Right of way for safety with innovative software from JST
We pay the utmost attention to the topic of “security”. Based on nearly 30 years of experience, JST has developed software solutions that enable automatic, event-controlled alarm functions (PixelDetection®) on the one hand and convenient login and logout via chip card (myLogin®) on the other.
How to decrease stress levels for employees in control centers
Efficient, safe and convenient! With JST MultiStreaming® it is possible to significantly reduce stress factors in the control center. Switch any source to any desired monitor, only one mouse and keyboard per workstation, better climate thanks to outsourced hardware are just some of the advantages.
Simplified handling for all sources in the control center
A user interface in which the control center operators can easily find their way around. An interface that reflects the operator’s own control room as a 3D layout. On this basis, the JST developers have designed myGUI®, a platform that offers simplified access to the handling of all systems.
More ergonomics and comfort especially for shift work
Ergonomics is one of the key requirements for control center equipment today. In network control centers, where stress due to high alarm volumes and shift work are part of everyday life, the ergonomic furniture solutions from JST provide a counterpoint. Bestseller: the Stratos X11® console.
Experience more at a planning workshop in the control room simulator
Having visions of the future is good. Experiencing is better! Visit the control room simulator, unique in Europe, where state-of-the-art technology and the latest ergonomic know-how are combined. The control room of the future. The special feature: Here you can touch everything and try it out for yourself.
Whether virtual or live on site – the workshop in the control room simulator is free of charge.
We kindly ask for prior registration.
We offer our customers unique products and solutions for control rooms. An exclusive benefit that only JST can provide.
We have been working in the business for more than 30 years. We would be happy to bring our many years of know-how to your project.
This means that you benefit from our extensive experience and smooth project realisation processes. Because JST keeps everything in mind!
Our experts are among the best. They have been designing control rooms for years. Our team enjoys working together – for you!
What clients say about their experiences with JST – Jungmann Systemtechnik®
„At the kick-off meeting in the control room simulator, it was obvious: this meets our technical requirements and also offers something for the eye.“
„It’s a total work of art where everything fits together. It’s coherent, it builds on each other – that was decisive at the end.“
„What was presented to us in the control room simulator made me a fan of the project from the start“
This is where visions become reality: JST components pave the way into the digital age
The integrated control room models from Jungmann Systemtechnik set new standards in efficiency and resource management. Innovative components make the control of your company’s strategic and operational core tasks not only more convenient, but also more secure. We are at your side to develop an overall concept for you that meets the requirements of an increasingly automated world.
The smart multifunctional table sets new standards
Leading furniture designers have created the AllMedia exclusively for JST. The conference table is far superior to conventional models. The reason: Via JST MultiStreaming®, the system connects the conference room directly to the sources of the control center, which are immediately available.
The right video wall for every room
Monitor walls from Jungmann Systemtechnik adapt exactly to the structural requirements and size of your control room. We offer various options for different needs, ranging from the carrier plate for wall mounting the monitors to mobile DisplayRacks and multifunctional DisplayWalls.
Increased attention in case of events
Whether DisplaySuit, Stratos X11® operator console or OPAL X11® ceiling sails – the integrated AlarmLight changes color depending on the event and thus attracts everyone’s attention. Red or pulsating light gives the control room team a clear signal: “Attention! A reaction is required here!”
JST DisplayWalls – the team players in the control center
Video walls from JST are the basis for a new level of event-oriented surveillance efficiency. Crystal-clear 24/7 displays and the integration of of real-time data pave the way for precise monitoring and fast decision-making. Proactive alarm visualization reduces response times.
Security and convenience go hand in hand
Access-protected and air-conditioned, the control room hardware is housed in the external technology room via extender solutions. Data is transmitted in real time without any loss of quality. An additional benefit: heat and noise pollution are kept away from the control room.
Masterpieces in the control room
Fully integrated operator consoles “made in Germany” impress with their workmanship, design and fulfillment of legal ergonomic requirements. By merging with the hardware and software solutions developed by JST, the Stratos X11® becomes an indispensable command center in the control room.
Interactive, creative, communicative!
A multifunctional situation table as a central hub. The JST TacticTable® is gaining a foothold in the market as a smart information hub for all control room applications. The performance potential and skills of the individual are multiplied by bundling creative concepts and ideas in a team.
IP streaming solution for control room management
Operate any source on any desired screen. Just one mouse and keyboard required for all applications. Intuitive handling with the myGUI® interface. Cost-saving and with a sharpened focus on security. The convenient KVM solution JST MultiStreaming® offers flexibility without limits!
Fixed contact person for all phases of the project
Workflow and task coordination with the specialist departments
Professional implementation of all components
Employee training and initialization of the new Control Center
Turnkey Solutions:
Integrated overall solution creates a real competitive advantage
You want a control center where all information comes together? A control room as a secure basis for the requirements of the digital future, precisely tailored to your processes and needs?
With our experience from more than 600 projects, we are the right partner for turnkey solutions that transform your control room into a profit center.
The right solution for every control center
Ergonomic furniture, large video walls, operation technology and much more – JST world offers the entire spectrum of control room equipment. Whether network control center for municipal utilities, central cross-utility control station or monitoring room for energy suppliers: Our concepts are individually customized to your needs. Watch our videos to see just how comprehensive our support can be. Or take a closer look at modern options for alarm detection.
