Electric and Gas Utility Operations Technology (OT) investments such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), big data historian functionality and advanced visibility of critical data are all key in enabling operators to achieve key objectives in safety, reliability, economics and customer service. As the global energy transition accelerates, it is becoming more critical for utilities of all sizes to operate their energy system to meet these goals.

Even with industry-wide agreement on the powerful benefits of OT, small and mid-size utilities often find it a greater challenge to overcome the financial and skilled resource limitations to implement a solution when compared to larger utilities. Generally, this highlights the importance of a solution that meets the following criteria:

• Comprehensive SCADA, historian, and user interface features
• Easy for operators to train and use
• Positioned for future growth into advanced applications
• Minimal impact on IT staff resources
• Quick realization of benefits
• Low cost of ownership to meet budget constraints
• Open system platform to interface with other business systems
• Support structure that leverages a partner network to augment staff as needed
• Cloud deployment option with managed hosting
• Adherence to robust cyber security standards and requirements

To address these criteria, AspenTech recently introduced AspenTech OSI SCADA Express™, a solution specifically designed to meet the needs and objectives of small and mid-size gas and electric utilities. AspenTech OSI SCADA Express incorporates components of the company’s industry-leading AspenTech OSI monarch SCADA™, AspenTech OSI CHRONUS Express, and AspenTech OSI web UI products – all of which are in control rooms of many of the largest utilities throughout the world.

Standard Architecture Enabling Fast Project Deployment

The architecture for AspenTech OSI SCADA Express is designed as a standard off-the-shelf solution, developed and factory-tested in-house. Utilizing established deployment tools, qualified deployment partners can quickly install the software onto utility servers - whether located on-site at the utility or managed by an AspenTech partner on cloud infrastructure such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services. Bottom line – this enables a quick realization of benefits and greatly reduces the utility resources required to support the project.

Industry Proven Applications

The configuration includes the use of redundant virtual production servers for handling all SCADA functions including scanning field devices and alarm processing. On the same redundant pair, the solution includes high speed historian capabilities. On a separate web server located in a separate demilitarized zone, field users can access the SCADA information utilizing our application with their web browsers, tablets and smartphones securely on a read-only basis. Once deployed, AspenTech OSI SCADA Express offers the user a range of easy-to-use features to customize displays to meet specific use cases and operating objectives with enhanced situational awareness.

High Value at a Lowest Total Cost

The AspenTech OSI SCADA Express solution is delivered to utilities that require a SCADA controllable point count up to 30,000 points. Common protocols are included in the solution such as DNP, Modbus, IEC 101/104 and BSAP. Other common interoperability protocols such as ICCP, OPC UA client and MultiSpeak are also available. The templated design, secure architecture, and standard configuration allows licensing for these products to be deployed easily within a matter of months by a qualified deployment partner.

To learn more about this and all other digital grid management solutions, please visit Digital Grid Management | AspenTech.