Databases
We develop and operate various databases to support our members, who fill in these databases. The vgbe databases help improving safety standards in power plants, meeting legal requirements or enable anonymous benchmarking in the power industry.
Benchmarking
Comparative assessment of performance
KISSY
In the liberalised electricity market it is vital and of utmost importance to assess the performance of own power plants in comparison to third-party power plants (benchmarking). Strategic tools for optimising the performance of a power plant in a competitive environment include
Recording of availability data and determination of operating parameters
The vgbe Power Plant Statistics Performance Indicators (KISSY) is the tool to deal efficiently with these questions. Currently it contains availability data and operating parameters of power plants with a total gross capacity of approx. 273 GW of international utilities. The Technical Group “Performance Indicators”, with its more than 50 years of experience, is currently supporting the development of inter-company statistics for run-of-river, pumped-storage and storage power plants as well as for wind power plants.
The operating parameters as well as their use and analysis are defined and explained in the vgbe Guideline “Fundamentals and Systematics of Availability Determination for Thermal Power Plants” (VGB-S-002-03, Booklet 3).
With the help of the KISSY database, authorised feeders can enter data online and evaluate them on the basis of real data. A variety of different reports can be created with the help of an online wizard.
Standardised reports on the evaluation of availability parameters including analyses of unavailability of power plant components in 10-year periods can be ordered in our shop. These reports are free of charge for those utilities who actively support the power plant statistics.
Special evaluations
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Wind Power Performance Data Exchange (WiPPeX)
The WiPPeX database offers wind turbine operators access to a large pool of SCADA-Data, enabling them to carry out targeted analyses and benchmarks with regard to turbine availability and performance.
Each turbine type has its own platform which is managed by vgbe energy so that a turbine-specific evaluation can be carried out. For the anonymity of the data to be guaranteed by vgbe energy, at least three companies per platform must participate. Each participant of the respective platform thus automatically has access to the stored data. The data is transferred according to standardised criteria and contains information on wind speed, wind direction, nacelle orientation, rotor blade angle, active and reactive power, rotor and generator speed as well as other characteristic plant parameters. The structure of the database as well as the input data are continuously expanded in cooperation with the turbine operators.
Making better use of the data potential of wind turbines with WiPPeX:
- Optimization of the operating results of wind turbines through a targeted evaluation of turbine data
- Execution of a benchmark
- Ensuring data security through server location in Germany
Photovoltaics Faults and Failures Database (PVFF)
The Photovoltaics Faults and Failures Database (PVFF) is a newly developed platform dedicated to tracking significant faults in photovoltaic (PV) systems. Initiated within the vgbe Technical Competence Center “Future Energy Systems and designed by the vgbe Technical Committee “Photovoltaics,” this member-driven tool provides a structured and user-friendly interface for documenting failure events that impact safety, performance, or environmental compliance.
The goal of PVFF is to support PV operators in identifying recurring issues, improving system reliability, and enabling more predictive and cost-efficient maintenance strategies. By systematically collecting and clustering real-world damage data, the database offers valuable insights that can inform design improvements, maintenance planning, and operational decision-making.
Currently, the PVFF is available as an internal tool for Technical Committee members, who actively contribute to the growing dataset. As more data is shared, the resource becomes increasingly valuable, allowing members to benefit from the collective experience of the PV community.
Oil database
Customers of our oil laboratory who have their turbine, hydraulic and gear oils analysed have online access to the analysis results in addition to the written reports supplied. Thus it is possible to keep an eye on the analysis results historically and to read trends if necessary.
The same applies for transformer examinations. The analytical results of the gas in oil (DGA), furan and insulating oil analysis can be retrieved from the database worldwide via a web application. In addition to the display of trend curves, it is also possible to specify disturbances in the transformer using various evaluation tools, e.g. for the gas in oil analysis (DGA).
Generator damage
Past generator damage led to the decision to keep the necessary information available at the vgbe head office.
The Project Group “Generators” set up by the vgbe Technical Group “Electrical Equipment” developed the structure of a database for recording and evaluating generator damage. Currently more than 400 events have been recorded.
The database is available for research to ordinary vgbe members participating in the exchange of experience. All ordinary members are invited to feed in incidents of damage and benefit from the wealth of experience.
Transformer damage
Damage to transformers often leads to unit failures and long-term availability restrictions and is also frequently associated with fires. Especially for large transformers filled with insulating oil, damage with unintentional publicity has been recorded in the past.
The Technical Group “Equipment” recommended development of a transformer database in order to be able to systematically evaluate the damage at vgbe and to derive suitable measures. The database was implemented and is being maintained by the Project Group “Transformers”.
The database is available for research to ordinary vgbe members participating in the exchange of experience. All ordinary members are invited to feed in incidents of damage and benefit from the wealth of experience.
Nuclear databases
Reporting and evaluation centre
The QP database provides information on qualified products which have been tested and evaluated by vgbe with regard to their chemical and corrosion-chemical suitability for use in nuclear power plants and in interim storage facilities for nuclear fuel. The database comprises more than 1700 products.
The evaluation of the requirements according to DIN 25493 for assembly auxiliaries that come into contact with components of nuclear plants, whose surface cleanliness is required according to DIN 25410, is carried out taking into account the corrosion chemical suitability for use in nuclear power plants.
Benefit through use of the database:
- Avoidance of pollution inputs into nuclear power plant systems,
- Part of the quality management for the production and maintenance of high-quality components,
- Ensuring operator responsibility (such as avoiding corrosion attacks).
Currently, the QP database is used at 11 German sites and 3 nuclear power plants abroad.
Reporting and evaluation centre
The main task of vgbe’s reporting and evaluation centre (ZMA) is to support the operators of nuclear power plants in the exchange and use of operating experience. The aim is to centralise these tasks to enable them to be processed as rationally as possible. The ZMA database “Special incidents” installed at the vgbe office is a key facility for this objective.
- Documentation of reportable incidents from nuclear power plants worldwide.
- Daily update.
- Targeted technical analyses of reportable incidents.
- Statistical investigations of selected operational characteristics (occurrence frequencies, damage categories, etc.).
Cooperation of ZMA with the World Association of Nuclear Power Operators (WANO)
The ZMA acts as a central liaison office between the German nuclear power plant operators and WANO (centres in Atlanta, London, Paris, Tokyo and Moscow). With reference to the WANO programme “Event Reporting”, the ZMA is thus also involved in the worldwide exchange of incident reports.
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Our team
M. Eng. Zhenqi Willmann
Generator damage, Transformer damage
