Electrical Substations

Substation Automation

The Digital Substation Vision: From Utopian Concept to Grid Backbone

A digital substation is a modernized electrical substation that replaces traditional analog equipment and copper wiring with digital signaling, intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), and fiber-optic communication. It enables real-time data exchange, advanced automation, and greater efficiency in...

Substation Protection

Protective Relay Frustrations

Solving misoperation with line parameter measurements BY WILL KNAPEK, OMICRON USA Between 80 to 90 percent of all power system faults involve ground. Many protective relaying schemes depend on ground distance protection to accurately sense and locate ground faults on multi-terminal sub-transmission...

Physical Security & Monitoring

The Problem with Birds in Substation Outages

Birds have been a problem for electrical substations since the first power distribution systems were built. The elevated components of substations create ideal perches and overhangs for birds to nest and find safety. Critical electrical substation design principles now include deterrent elements...

Substation Testing & Maintenance

High Voltage Testing with AC Power Frequency

High Voltage, Inc. is a small design and manufacturing company located in the Hudson Valley region of New York State. Although small, we are a large presence in the electrical test equipment industry with a representative organization covering most of the world and a highly respected product line...

Breakers & Relays

A Closer Look into the True Cost of Replacing Electrical Switchgear

During my switchgear modernization presentations all over the US, I am constantly reminded of the concerns customers face with their aging electrical infrastructure. For the most part, these center around safety, reliability and productivity: • Replacements parts are very hard (or impossible)...

Lightning Protection

Lightning Strikes

In Canada, lightning flashes occur about 2.34 million times a year; with the highest levels of concentration during the summer months. While most lightning on earth is ground-to-cloud, recent research has identified that the majority of lightning events to tall structures, such as wind...

Home Transformation Electrical Substations

The End of the Road for Transmission Incentives

In a significant shift, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has decided to abandon its transmission incentives policy, particularly the construction work in progress (CWIP) incentives. This decision marks a pivotal change in how transmission projects are financed and regulated, potentially impacting stakeholders across the energy sector.

Historically, transmission incentives, including CWIP, were designed to encourage investment in the nation's aging and overburdened transmission infrastructure. By allowing utilities to recover costs during the construction phase,...