Applying the Industry 4.0 in a Smart Gas Grid: The Greek Gas Distribution Network Case

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to design and implement a series of actions regarding the operation of DEDA S.A. (Natural Gas Distribution Networks), based on principles of Industry 4.0. The Natural Gas Distribution sector is one of the most critical and innovative areas where Industry 4.0 can be applied, being part of critical infrastructure management. At first, company's business process architecture was developed, with the aim to export DEDA's business process and functional specifications related to the required information systems. Subsequently, company's communication network is implemented alongside the company's gas network, in coordination with the company's control room. In addition, modernization of metering system is taking place in order to exchange information between smart meters and the control room. A number of Information Systems, such as the pipeline surveillance system and the Business Intelligence system will also be installed in order to ensure communication at different levels using Cloud technologies. The implementation is expected to improve DEDA's organization, increasing customers' service level. As a result, there will be an expected increase in the operational efficiency of DEDA's network through the use of advanced technologies, in cooperation with business process modelling techniques. The effort should be continued in this direction in order to achieve even greater improvement in business processes, information systems and pipeline automation.