Wireless remote control in ring main units: Experiences in intelligent grids

The grid of DELTA Netwerkbedrijf B.V. (DNWB), a grid owner in Zeeland, the Netherlands, is moving towards more intelligence in the grid. On the other hand, the Dutch Government is setting goals related to the availability of the grid by using IEEE reliability indices SAIDI and SAIFI. The conventional grid has already remote monitoring and control capabilities at the level of distribution substations. In the Ring Main Units, the secondary switchgear, no remote monitoring and control capabilities are available. General available automation components are quite expensive and big, so it is not the optimal solution for the compact Ring Main Units. Together with Eaton, as manufacturer of medium voltage switchgear, a solution was designed by adding intelligent components specifically designed for medium voltage areas in order to have an efficient, integrated and compact solution in the ring substations. This design is set up as a pilot project rolled out in a couple of distribution rings to gain knowledge about the practical impact of the implementation in the existing grid. After evaluation of the results this concept will be rolled out broader in the grid.