Discover how Ultra Tendency enabled Vattenfall's data streaming processes using a centralized Apache Kafka platform on Azure Cloud. This innovative solution transformed data management across various business sectors, achieving impressive results.
Vattenfall, a renowned Swedish energy company, excels in Europe's energy landscape. With a sharp focus on sustainable energy like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, they're a frontrunner in the renewable energy race. Balancing environmental responsibilities with economic growth, they operate in the challenging European energy market, aiming for a fossil-free future. With around 20,000 employees, Vattenfall is a state-owned entity headquartered in Solna, Sweden, making significant strides in integrating renewables into the existing grid.
The Challenge:
Vattenfall's business unit "Markets" faced a significant challenge in maximizing the effectiveness of their Kafka ecosystem. The primary issue wasn't with Kafka itself, but with the Markets team's ability to fully leverage its capabilities. This led to operational inefficiencies and limited the system's scalability. Additionally, Kafka was initially set up to cater primarily to the needs of this specific unit, which created barriers to its wider adoption across the company. This situation highlighted a critical need for a more user-friendly and scalable platform that could be seamlessly integrated and utilized effectively by various departments. Tackling this challenge meant not only technological innovation but also empowering the Vattenfall teams with the necessary tools and skills to run and maintain the ecosystem effectively.
The Solution:
Ultra Tendency, in collaboration with a Vattenfall project team, not only introduced a centralized Kafka solution in Azure Cloud but also prioritized skill development. Alongside providing training programs to build Vattenfall's internal expertise, Ultra Tendency is actively supporting their operational tasks. This hands-on assistance will continue until Vattenfall's teams develop the necessary skills and capacities to independently manage and drive the platform, ensuring a smooth transition and sustained success. The solution, designed for high-volume data processing and messaging, integrated advanced monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana, Cruise-Control, and Kafka-Lag-Exporter via Kubernetes. Enhanced security measures, automated scalability, and a transparent billing model were also key components, aligning with the client's need for a secure, adaptable, and cost-effective data management system.
The Result:
This new central platform simplified launching data-driven projects, enhancing security and operational stability. Notable successes include:
Enhanced Forecasting in MCP: Leveraging the Kafka platform, the Model Calculation Platform now integrates external temperature data for dynamic power demand forecasting. This enables quick adaptation to changing weather, optimizing energy distribution.
Optimized Gas Storage Management: A Vattenfall business unit now uses the platform for effective gas storage and swing position management. Real-time data processing aids swift, informed decision-making, responding better to market and operational needs.
Efficient Data Management for BA Wind: BA Wind relies on Kafka for smooth data transfer from wind parks to Azure systems, crucial for timely wind energy asset management, ensuring decisions are based on current, accurate information.
Importantly, Ultra Tendency developed a migration concept for a zero downtime approach, allowing the transition of use-cases from the original Markets Kafka cluster to the new Azure-based platform. The deprecation of the old Markets cluster has resulted in cost savings and reduced capacity overhead, further streamlining operations within the business area.
