Substation Automation

Substation automation gains great attention from utilities in order to meet the challenges of increased demands for metering, control, and monitoring. Several merging technologies, such as the rich functionality of micro-processor relays with communication ports, utilities implementing more fiber optic in their substations, and the existing communication protocols such as distributed network protocol (DNP) 3.0, transmission control protocol (TCP)/internet protocol (IP)/Ethernet, SEL fast messaging and newer IEC-61850, make substation automation possible. Substation automation improves the system operation and maintenance efficiencies and reduces cost.

Our areas of interest and expertise with regards to substation automation includes remote closing and tripping breakers and other equipment, remote engineering access to relays or other intelligent electronic devices (IED), event report collection, metering, substation local HMI, and others.

T&D Engineers can help utilities configure these substation automation solutions:

• SCADA system and communications interfaces with RTUs, HMIs, data concentrators, etc.
• Develop data concentrators' settings and programming for substation automation.