Overview
Increasing asset adaptability and maintaining system reliability while reducing material and labor costs is a critical balancing act and reality for many substation managers. A diminishing skilled workforce adds to the complexity. A digital substation may be the key to meeting many of these challenges.
What is a digital substation? At its core, a digital substation focuses on converting binary status and analog measured data into digital data - reliably and seamlessly. This makes data easier to transmit and share between devices and substations in real time, so it can be better utilized, processed and acted upon.
What can it do?
Reduce CAPEX by eliminating duplicated hardware (CT, VT are no longer required)
Reduce engineering work through simplified system drawings
Improve workforce safety (miles of copper wires are replaced with fiber-optic cables)
Easier, faster and remote commissioning / testing
Reduce substation footprint by up to 50% through a smaller control room
Improve system reliability through increased situational awareness and asset utilization
Gain actionable intelligence and unlock new values of your substation data
- Interoperability of devices from different vendors through industry standard communication protocols (IEC 61850)
- Increased system and asset awareness and proactive monitoring which in turn ensures greater system resilience
- Lower cost of ownership through asset monitoring and optimized grid operation
- Standardization of processes and procedures across various substations using IEC 61850
- Flexibility to deploy new applications and ability to unlock new revenue streams
Take a virtual tour to see how digitization is applied at the switchyard and process bus layer of a substation.
Getting ready for tomorrow
With more than 6 years of experience, across 27 countries to deliver more than 100 digital substation (process bus) projects, our experts have been working with utilities and industries to plan, design and implement these advanced solutions.
We work with your teams to build the skills and expertise you need. And as your organization's digital expertise grows, so will the benefits - enabling the transition toward a fully digital tomorrow.
Learn, discover and explore more through our extensive resource library
A Primer: IEC 61850 in the Modern Substation
As the electrical networks have evolved to meet the changing demands of consumers, substations have kept pace, bringing together improved technologies, engineering and operational strategies to improve the availability of the electrical network. This evolution has given rise to the intelligent digital substation.
Why go digital?
Evolving from conventional to intelligent digital substation
As the electrical networks have evolved to meet the changing demands of consumers, substations have kept pace, bringing together improved technologies, engineering and operational strategies to improve the availability of the electrical network. This evolution has given rise to the intelligent digital substation.
Helping to make the Digital Transformation a Reality - Interview with Nicolas V. and Byron F.
Many Grid Solutions customers today share the same concerns: Reducing material and labor costs and adapting to a shrinking work force as many people will be eligible for retirement in the near future. With our digital substations, we are working with customers to address these concerns.