Data collection from smart meters made easy with SAP AMI and Siemens EnergyIP
cc energie operates BKW’s SAP IS-U system and is continuously developing it further. As a supplier of cc energie, we were commissioned to implement the integration of SAP AMI (SAP Advanced Metering Infrastructure) with the MDM system EnergyIP (Meter Data Management) from Siemens for the remote reading of smart meters in cooperation with BKW.
The integration between SAP and EnergyIP was implemented with SAP PO (Process Orchestration). For this purpose, we set up a new instance of SAP PO in the system landscape of cc energie.
THE CHALLENGES
SAP AMI is used in metering point operation primarily for remote readings. EnergyIP from Siemens is used as the meter data management system. To connect EnergyIP, it was necessary to set up a corresponding SAP PO infrastructure at cc energie.
All required interfaces between SAP IS-U and EnergyIP (including specific services) via SAP PO had to be set up. A detailed analysis provided information on the necessary enhancements that had to be implemented to cover all customer-specific requirements.
OUR APPROACH
In the first step, we built the system architecture for integration using SAP PO. Subsequently, the SAP PO instance was fully configured, including monitoring, test tools and connection to the central SLD (System Landscape Directory). The content delivered by SAP with the definition of all web services for the AMI was imported into SAP PO.
On SAP IS-U we activated the AMI Business Functions (ISU_AMI_*) and implemented the corresponding BAdIs per web service. When implementing the BAdIs, it had to be taken into account that other clients remained unchanged in the process.
Initial tests of the system showed that various web services and their arrangement did not yet cover all of BKW's requirements. Therefore, we extended the SAP standard processes of SAP AMI accordingly and also used specific web services from Siemens EnergyIP.
Since all systems (SAP IS-U, SAP PO, EnergyIP) are located in different networks and are also managed by different companies, the configuration had to ensure secure communication. This was made possible with the use of firewalls, certificates and private/public keys, in coordination with the responsible parties from all the companies involved.
THE RESULT
BKW currently has more than 40,000 smart meters in use, of which more than 35,000 devices use smart meter integration via SAP AMI.
The new system ensures stability, continuity and high data quality: The exchange of messages between SAP IS-U and EnergyIP is permanently monitored using SAP PO. Thus, more than 2,500 messages are exchanged every week without any data loss. If a system in the communication chain is not available, SAP PO detects this and automatically initiates a new transmission as soon as all systems are available again.
ABOUT BKW
The BKW Group is an internationally active energy and infrastructure company headquartered in Bern. It employs around 10,500 people. Thanks to its network of companies and its innovative technologies, it offers its customers comprehensive expertise in the areas of infrastructure, buildings and energy. It plans, builds and operates energy production and supply infrastructures for companies, private individuals and the public sector, and offers digital business models for renewable energies. Today, the BKW Group’s portfolio ranges from planning and consulting in engineering for energy, infrastructure and environmental projects to integrated offerings in the field of building technology and the construction, service and maintenance of energy, telecommunications, transport and water networks.
