PSI Emphasizes Software Competence for Gas Grids and Pipelines

  • Intelligent control of increasingly decarbonized gases and liquids

  • Solve volatility issues for renewable energies

  • Coupling of energy grids with Power-to-Gas and Power-to-Heat

Berlin, 31 August 2020 – PSI Software AG is renaming the "PSI Gas & Oil" business unit into "PSI Gas Grids and Pipelines". The move emphasizes the industry's transformation from CO2 heavy gases and liquids to gases and liquids that are lower in or neutral/free of CO2. PSI is currently involved in research and pilot projects to dramatically increase the share of these sustainable energy forms.

The gas grid, with high storage capacity (seasonal storage) and large-scale energy transport, is becoming the most important guarantor and opportunity for expansion for increasingly volatile energy generation from wind and solar energy in countries like Germany undergoing an energy transition. Surplus wind and solar power will be used for the electrolytic production of hydrogen. Large quantities of such green gases will be imported in order to decarbonize the industry. PSI supports network operators with the necessary software for the blending of hydrogen into natural gas or the conversion of methane gas pipelines into hydrogen pipelines.

With the PSIgassuite and PSIpipelines product suites, PSI Gas Grids and Pipelines provides software solutions for energy supply, the transport and storage of natural gas, green gas, CO2-neutral gas, biogas, LNG, biodiesel, synthesized eFuels, crude oil and refinery or chemical products as well as hydrogen, oxygen and CO2 recycling composite pipelines.

With PSIganesi, the use of renewable energies and hydrogen in the network can be simulated and the gas composition tracked taking these injections into account. This is the only way –when mixing various injection gasses – to ensure the required gas composition at the withdrawal point for the customer. This also includes the actual or origin-related CO2 content.

Hydrogen is the most volatile molecule, which is why the leak detection software has been improved by a power of ten not only in order to reliably detect contamination and explosion hazards but micro-quantities, pumping operations and thefts as well.

The product suites are continuously enhanced  based on the PSI platform. For example, PSIgasguide – used for optimizing the gas grids current and future operation modes - has been newly developed and PSIcarlos – used for the planning of transporting liquids in pipelines - has been modernized.

The business unit is also involved in research projects including MathEnergy that develops mathematical methods for sector coupling Power-to-Gas (P2G) and Power-to-Heat (P2H) and promotes the integration of artificial intelligence methods in pipeline control.

Based on its own software products, PSI Group develops and integrates complete solutions for optimizing  the flow of energy and material for utilities (energy networks, energy trading, public transport) and industry (metals production, automotive, mechanical engineering, logistics). PSI was founded in 1969 and employs 2,000 persons worldwide.