Sian Crampsie
SP Energy Networks has selected ABB to participate in the Future Intelligent Transmission Network Substation ("Fitness") project, which aims to demonstrate the capabilities of digital substation technologies.
The Fitness project will see two bays of the existing Wishaw 275 kV substation in Scotland being equipped with new fully integrated digital protection and control systems. ABB will contribute its grid automation technology to this project, which will enable the substation to protect, monitor and control the transmission network in parts of Scotland.
A digital substation is a key component enabling a smarter grid. Digital communications via fibre optic cables will replace traditional copper connections using analogue signals, increasing safety, flexibility and availability, while reducing cost, risk and environmental impact. Digital substations also incorporate Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) with integrated information and communication technology.
Under its contract with SP Energy Networks, ABB will deliver a suite of digital substation components, including IEDs, non-conventional instrument transformers, merging units, and phasor measurement units that are interfaced with the IEC 61850-9-2 process bus architecture and with the wide area monitoring platform.
"This project will demonstrate how digitalised communications within a substation can increase controllability, facilitate the integration of intermittent renewables and improve safety by replacing copper cabling with fiber optics," said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB's Power Grids division.
The digital substation aims to demonstrate the interoperability of ABB's technologies with those of the other project partners. Methodologies to facilitate grid automation and interoperability through standardisation, system design and testing are also becoming increasingly critical for the utility industry.
"SP Energy Networks endeavours to deliver value for money for UK customers through the Fitness project and bring innovative digital substation solutions that also enable optimization of asset investments," said Priyanka Mohapatra, senior project manager, SP Energy Networks. "We are also expecting a saving in overall substation costs when digital technology is adopted as the UK norm, and a footprint reduction of around 15 per cent."
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