How EnBW built a scalable monitoring system for renewable assets with Wavestone
- Organization & Change
The challenge
A data challenge behind the energy transition
EnBW’s (opens in a new tab) (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG) renewable assets generate around 100 gigabytes of sensor data every day. Turbines, solar panels and field devices produce a constant stream of information. Yet the company’s legacy systems struggled to process this data efficiently. Slow imports, long loading times, and fragmented team workflows made it difficult to extract real-time insights or scale operations as new sites came online.
To stay ahead in the energy transition, EnBW needed a modern, unified platform to monitor, analyze, and act on data across its renewable portfolio.
A future-ready system designed for scale
Together with Wavestone, EnBW developed a new, cloud-based condition monitoring system built on Microsoft Azure. The project involved more than a technical migration. It reshaped the way operational teams work with data and how decisions are made across the renewable division.
Wavestone guided the architecture design, coordinated multiple decentralized data teams, and ensured the operational adoption of new workflows. The goal: to create a scalable, intelligent solution that could evolve with the business.
The system now uses predictive maintenance models that spot anomalies early by analyzing vibration, temperature or geolocation data. It triggers maintenance activities before failures occur which helps avoid unplanned outages and reduces damage and downtime. Through proactive action EnBW can prevent unplanned outages, reduce equipment wear, and optimize resource planning.
Our approach
What made the difference: delivering predictive maintenance
Wavestone’s contribution shaped the project from strategy to delivery. Leveraging deep expertise in cloud architecture and organizational change, the team guided EnBW through every step; from initial design to final operational adoption. This integrated approach was critical to replacing fragmented legacy systems with a truly unified and intelligent platform.
Our team:
- Designed the cloud and data architecture with a focus on scalability and efficiency
- Connected engineering, IT and operations teams and helped them work toward shared goals
- Set up automated CI/CD pipelines and quality tools like SonarQube and NexusIQ to keep development stable
- Supported change management to ensure the platform was used effectively in day-to-day operations
A partnership built on collaboration
The project succeeded through close cooperation and open communication. EnBW and Wavestone worked as one team which helped keep a complex setup on track and maintain a steady delivery pace.
The colleagues from the data management team showed great commitment in immersing themselves in our highly complex system landscape. Thanks to their in-depth technical know-how and their expertise in cloud and Azure technologies, the transition phase was successfully completed on schedule after six months. Since then, the team has been a trusted partner for all matters relating to architecture, data, and development.
The results
From technology to transformation: Predictive maintenance for renewable energy
With the new monitoring system, EnBW strengthened the foundation for data-driven renewable operations. The platform helps teams act faster, plan maintenance more effectively and make informed decisions without relying on legacy systems. With Wavestone’s support, EnBW is now equipped to run renewable assets with greater confidence and scale sustainably.
Impact with clear results
- Predictive maintenance capabilities help reduce unexpected failures and optimize asset management, resulting in significant cost savings and ROI within a year.
- The system is flexible and can be expanded easily with new functionalities, it’s knowledge base can be supplemented with new tasks and feeds into a growing, improving diagnostic and damage-detection processes over time.
- Experts can analyze and evaluate complex anomalies through new dedicated tools and views.
- A strong collaboration between Wavestone and the client ensured the solution aligned with strategic goals.