EDGE Digital Substation – A disruptive automation field project

Abstract

The constraints associated with most Substation Automation Systems (SAS) architectures used nowadays, can be overcome with a different approach. Dedicated platforms and hardware are more difficult to evolve than open platforms and standard hardware. The use of many different Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) and sometimes with different versions and firmware, have higher operation costs and high value of spare parts’ stock. Additionally, there are opportunities to design a more simple and flexible SAS architecture, allowing the development of new applications and solutions. This paper intends to share the EDGE Digital Substation project approach, where the traditional Bay Level will disappear, centralizing protections and control functions in the Central Control Units (CCUs). For this case study document, it is proposed the following structure: introduction, current SAS architecture of EDP Distribuição, EDGE Digital Substation architecture, field project and future directions.