SWT was
using reliable but aging radio technology for telecontrol of 40 water
management outstations that had reached its operational limits.
With the UMTS switch-off in
Germany, their 3G-capable devices were operating at a reduced 2G speed.
Annual plant shutdowns were
required to manually exchange certificates, leading to considerable cost.
Stricter security requirements
for critical infrastructure put additional pressure on SWT to enhance
their system’s resilience.
Any conversion concept had to
guarantee minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
In
collaboration with Siemens partner BN Automation AG (BNA), all water
management outstations were upgraded from 3G to 5G.
Siemens
SCALANCE MUM853-1 mobile router was implemented to securely connect outdoor
stations to the control center and protect communication via VPN encryption and an integrated firewall.
Siemens SINEMA
Remote Connect management platform was used for managing VPN connections,
access rights, and separating IT and OT networks, ensuring secure remote
access.
SWT relied on the
cloud-based version of SINEMA Remote Connect, eliminating on-premises hardware
and maintenance, while benefiting from automatic
updates, secure hosting, and flexible
scaling.
BNA
parameterized and tested each of the 40 routers internally, reducing the on-site deployment time from one week to three days.
The optional
Layer 2 functionality of SINEMA Remote Connect allowed SWT to treat remote
stations like local networks, supporting protocols requiring broadcasts or
direct MAC addressing, while aligning with upcoming NIS2 Directive requirements.
The solution
provided a modular and unified platform that also benefits SWT's solar parks and e-mobility charging stations by securely
networking their distributed infrastructure with a single cloud solution.
"My colleague has already integrated other systems independently, installation really is self-explanatory. […] You don't notice whether the station is two or 50 kilometers away."
Volker Lex, Group Leader for EI&C
and Telecontrol Technology at SWT
Enhanced security
Cost and maintenance reduction
Improved operational efficiency
Significant increase in speed, stability, and future-proofing
Scalability
With around 850 employees, the Stadtwerke Trier (SWT) is
the region's central energy and infrastructure service
provider. In addition to supplying electricity, gas, and
drinking water, SWT also operates wastewater
disposal, public transport, modern telecommunications, and neighborhood development. The goal is to
supply all customers with regional green electricity by
2030, to make public transport energy neutral by
2034, and to make the heat supply climate-friendly by
2038. The drinking water supply is already
climate-neutral and the wastewater treatment plant
produces surplus energy for neighboring locations.
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