Siemens unveils flexibility software boosting grid capacity and enabling autonomous management

Siemens has introduced Gridscale X Flexibility Manager, a new software solution designed to help distribution system operators (DSOs) unlock additional grid capacity and accelerate the connection of distributed energy resources (DERs) and data centers. With grid congestion and limited infrastructure increasingly constraining the energy transition, the new platform provides DSOs with the digital capabilities required to manage electricity flows more efficiently.

Gridscale X Flexibility Manager is part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio and supports the shift toward autonomous grid management. The software integrates seamlessly with existing DSO systems to deliver continuous monitoring of grid conditions and advanced forecasting of potential overloads. When congestion is expected, it analyzes available flexible resources—such as electric vehicles, heat pumps, batteries, and distributed generation—and identifies the most effective measures to balance the network. These flexibility actions can be activated through operator or market-based platforms, complementing traditional grid reinforcement strategies.

By leveraging distributed flexibility, DSOs using the software can increase grid capacity utilization by up to 20 percent and reduce investment costs by up to 40 percent, enabling them to connect new renewable installations and high-demand consumers more rapidly without expanding physical infrastructure.

A practical example of the technology’s impact comes from Kärnten Netz (KNG) in Austria. With photovoltaic capacity in Carinthia expected to nearly double by 2030—adding more than 1.1 GW—the region faces growing risks of congestion and voltage instability, particularly in rural areas with long distribution lines. As Austrian regulation moves toward a market-based flexibility model, KNG partnered with Siemens to co-develop a solution capable of managing the increasingly complex grid environment. This collaboration led to the deployment of the Flexibility Manager, supporting KNG in stabilizing the network while accommodating rapid renewable growth.

Through advanced forecasting, real-time monitoring, and automated flexibility activation, Gridscale X Flexibility Manager offers a scalable digital approach for improving grid resilience, accelerating DER integration, and enabling more efficient use of existing infrastructure.

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