Life Cycle Analysis Methodology for Distribution Feeder Reclosers

With the mission of "reliable power, at low cost, for generations", BC Hydro adopts the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach to investment decision making that considers economic, social and environmental issues in a comprehensive, systematic and integrated way. In this paper, the life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology developed for BC Hydro Distribution-Wires assets is introduced. In this methodology, the life-cycle assessment factors, defined as cost, environment and safety, which impact the investment decisions for the entire life-cycle of assets, are quantified. It integrates with asset management principle that balances three factors of investment, performance, and risks. The LCA methodology is applied into life-cycle analyses of power system distribution feeder reclosers. The main aim is to evaluate the feasibility and benefits for equipping existing manually operated reclosers with supervisory control functionality and derive the optimal recloser implementation strategy. Two different scenarios of reclosers as "keep the existing reclosers", and "upgrade the existing reclosers into SCADA" are evaluated and compared in term of all defined LCA factors. Life cycle cost assessment methodology is adopted to evaluate the cost effectiveness of upgrading reclosers based on if the long term benefits achieved in savings of vegetation management, shortened outage response and reduced recloser operation cost can cover the increased capital cost, operation and maintenance cost for recloser upgrade. Different from traditional approaches, it also considers the safety and environmental risks. Analysis results on existing reclosers are included to demonstrate the application and effectiveness of the LCA methodology.