As electricity networks become increasingly digital, resilience is no longer measured solely by the strength of the grid. Communications networks, automation systems, remote monitoring, and intelligent control platforms have become just as critical to maintaining service continuity during a major outage.

For utilities, ensuring these systems remain operational during prolonged power interruptions presents a growing engineering challenge.

German utility ELE Verteilnetz GmbH (EVNG) recently faced this challenge head-on when it set out to modernise 21 substations and gas pressure regulating stations, with a clear objective: ensure critical communications and control systems could continue operating independently for up to 72 hours during a widespread blackout.

Modern Networks, Legacy Infrastructure

While the objective was straightforward, the infrastructure was not.

Many of EVNG's substations had been operating for decades and were never designed to accommodate today's communications equipment, digital automation systems, or the battery capacity required to support extended autonomous operation.

As Simon Bartoschewski, Team Leader Communication and Security Systems at EVNG, explained:

"We had to equip decades-old medium-voltage stations with digital modules and sufficient battery capacity to operate for 72 hours."

Rather than treating each site as an individual engineering exercise, EVNG recognised the need for a standardised infrastructure platform that could be deployed consistently across the network.

Rethinking Where Critical Infrastructure Lives

One of the project's biggest challenges was available space.

Many substations simply could not accommodate the additional communications equipment, UPS systems, networking hardware, and battery storage required for extended backup operation.

Working with Rittal and IT infrastructure specialist Bechtle, EVNG adopted a different approach by relocating critical communications and power infrastructure into purpose-built outdoor enclosure systems.

Moving equipment outside the existing buildings not only solved the space constraint but also enabled a repeatable design that could be deployed efficiently across all 21 sites.

Designing for Operational Resilience

The project demonstrated that resilient infrastructure extends well beyond backup power alone.

Each outdoor installation combined multiple technologies into a single integrated platform, including:

• Modular enclosure systems for communications and control equipment
• Integrated climate control for stable operating temperatures
• Environmental protection for networking equipment, UPS systems, and battery storage
• Monitoring of temperature, humidity, and equipment status
• Standardised enclosure configurations to simplify deployment and maintenance

Rather than designing 21 unique solutions, the project was consolidated into six standard enclosure variants capable of meeting the requirements across the entire network.

This reduced engineering complexity, streamlined installation, and created a scalable platform for future expansion.

A Broader View of Infrastructure Resilience

As utilities continue investing in smart grids, distributed energy resources, and digital substations, infrastructure resilience is becoming increasingly dependent on the integration of communications, monitoring, environmental protection, and thermal management.

The EVNG project highlights how modern enclosure infrastructure can support these objectives by protecting critical equipment while providing the flexibility needed to accommodate future technologies.

Reflecting on the outcome, Bartoschewski noted:

"We didn't get just products from Rittal and Bechtle, but a ready-made solution."

For utilities planning the next generation of resilient infrastructure, the project provides a practical example of how standardised enclosure platforms can simplify deployment, improve long-term maintainability, and strengthen operational continuity during unexpected network events.

Read the full EVNG case study:
https://betop.friedhelm-loh-group.com/innovation/powering-on-in-a-blackout.html

Explore Rittal Outdoor Infrastructure Solutions:
https://www.rittal.com/au-en/au/LandingPages/Rittal-Outdoor-Solutions-Brochure

This article is based on "Powering on in a Blackout", written by Charlotte Erdmann and originally published in beTop 2025 by the Friedhelm Loh Group.