You wake up in the morning, and your shower starts automatically, the coffee machine brews your espresso at the desired temperature right on time, and your refrigerator orders fresh milk as soon as it runs out. While we're not fully there yet, it won't be long before every device around us becomes a smart device. The key to realizing this vision lies in sustainable energy supply.
Municipal utility Stadtwerke Mühlacker is a municipal energy and supply company that embodies regionality, sustainability and reliability. With their focus on security of supply for customers, they are committed to people and the environment every day. As a versatile provider, they supply the region with green electricity, natural gas, water, heat and internet. With around 125 employees, all of whom are municipal employees, they contribute to local value creation and job security. Their focus is on ecological and innovative supply, in particular through the expansion of decentralized and renewable electricity generation.
How must utility companies be set up to turn this vision into reality? A smart city is more than just a geographical location: it is a dynamic network of interconnected systems and intelligent technology aimed at improving the quality of life for its residents.
From efficient energy management with KVM to smart traffic solutions that monitor traffic flow with intelligent sensors, to innovative security concepts that contribute to the city’s safety with cameras and analytical tools – smart cities seamlessly integrate digital intelligence into urban everyday life.
The municipal utilities of Mühlacker in Baden-Württemberg are making an important contribution to the development of a future smart city and a significant advancement towards a decentralized, sustainable, and secure energy supply for the region. They are focusing on innovative solutions and investing in modern infrastructure, particularly through the redesign of their control center.
The energy provider is responsible for supplying a total of households and 845 industrial sites in the region. To make their control center more efficient and comfortable, they sought an innovative solution. In addition to supplying drinking water, they provide residents of Mühlacker with electricity, gas, internet, and heating.
The focus of the municipal utilities of Mühlacker is on ecological and innovative supply, particularly through the expansion of decentralized and renewable energy generation to meet future demands. To efficiently manage the systems and ensure supply, the facilities were remodeled and equipped with innovative technology. With a new supply concept and a modernized control center, Mühlacker connects innovation and sustainability, preparing for the smart city of tomorrow.
To realize their vision of a modern and sustainable control center, the municipal utilities of Mühlacker faced a challenging task. The renovation of the control center and the need to efficiently manage the systems to ensure supply required a flexible solution.
This was achieved through the implementation of a KVM system that can also accommodate future requirements. For the project of the municipal utilities of Mühlacker, an optimized cabling infrastructure was created, the computer technology was relocated to a protected area and integrated via KVM modules at the working positions in the control center.
The outsourced devices include several office PCs, a control center remote monitoring PC, and a round control system. These were connected via KVM computer modules (CPUs) with a compact matrix.
Thanks to the matrix solution, tasks can now be performed flexibly from any of the configured workplaces, and the need for more flexibility and ergonomics among users has been met with the implementation of KVM. In addition to optimizing individual workplaces, collaboration and monitoring of processes are enhanced through a video wall in the control center, thanks to a multi-viewing solution.
The implementation of a KVM system is simple and requires only a few technical prerequisites, including an optimized cable infrastructure and, if necessary, the separation of different networks.
This has been established in Mühlacker, and the outsourced computers have been made available at the working positions in the control center through KVM modules. Thanks to this solution, employees can now operate all computers flexibly and in real-time from various workplaces.
The municipal utilities now benefit from easy, fast, and comfortable control of the different PCs. The seamless switching between working positions via on-screen display or configured keyboard commands has not only increased efficiency but also enhanced employee engagement.
With innovative solutions and a modern infrastructure, the control center of the municipal utilities of Mühlacker is equipped to meet the requirements of the smart city. Advances in technology and efficient resource utilization are paving the way to prepare Mühlacker not only for current challenges but also for future demands of sustainable and connected urban development.
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