Distribution and substation automation

Enhancing reliability and productivity through advanced automation

distribution & substation automation

The emerging modern ‘smart grid’ and its enabling technologies offers a more reliable, secure and sustainable energy future. On the transmission and distribution side, the smart grid vision includes the built-in of advanced, “self-healing” capabilities to detect and respond to system disturbances.

 

Smart Grid means offering advances in energy storage to allow effective integration of renewables.  It means flexibility where energy consumers can have direct control over their use profile.  And finally it means innovation to accommodate new demands being placed on the grid to support electric vehicles.

 

Automation today for the self-healing grid of the future

A self-healing grid will require deploying and integrating multiple technologies and applications.

 

Distribution systems are incorporating advanced sensors, advanced outage management tools, distributed energy resources, automation, and advanced reconfiguration.  Substation automation offers new levels of real-time data to monitor system operations and equipment conditions.  

 

Insight and solutions for critical automation decisions

Distribution and substation automation initiatives involve critical decisions on integrating both old and new technologies, and massive amounts of real-time and historical data into existing systems. It also requires choosing from a widening array of computing, communications, networking protection, and data acquisition systems.

 

As a strategic partner to the utility industry, KEMA helps clients plan and implement distribution and substation automation initiatives.

 

From needs analysis and technology decisions to business knowledge and project management, we offer solutions-based experience in developing programs that optimize safety, flexibility, performance and integration while minimizing cost. Our automation solutions include:

  • needs assessment

  • architecture functional requirements

  • functional design

  • functional testing

  • business case development

  • implementation planning

  • request for information/proposal development

  • project implementation management assistance

  • factory acceptance testing.

We also understand new technology implementation – from distribution sensors to substation automation to AMI – changes the way utilities receive information and how they react. We help clients develop automation and smart grid strategies, including education and organizational changes, to support successful integration of new technologies and processes.

 

IEC 61850 - Working from a position of knowledge

We are actively involved in automation projects in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. KEMA is authorized by the UCA® International Users Group to perform IEC 61850 Conformance Testing in accordance with the Users Group Quality Assurance Testing Program Procedures. We also maintain an active leadership role in other industry standards working groups.