What is Substation Automation System?
A substation Automation System is a specific design system that is built to optimize the power distribution within the Smart Grid environment. The system will help to optimize Power systems distribution operation performance like Control and Monitoring of the Grid.
The operation of the Power Distribution System will support everyone to get a good power source in their location. The energy management system of power distribution will support to get the best productivity. How to keep the Power Grid stable? By Using the Automation Solution from companies like ABB, GE, Siemens, and Schneider, it is possible to make a transformation from Analog to Digital data.
“In recent years, the influence on the electric utility business has changed a lot. Running the power grid has changed from a static, near stable layout to a dynamic operation. Requirements regarding longer service life for all grid system components continue to be important” Siemens
Substation Automation System and Smart Grid?
However, optimizing the power distribution system is key to getting the optimum result while operating the system. That is why automation will improve the power distribution system using a specific protocol. The Smart Grid implementation in the Electricity will give the maximum performance of the distribution and monitoring. A stable power distribution system is a critical segment that every country needs to consider. It is more than only power distribution, but it is also about the security system and also related to another vital object and life.
There are some companies that focused on the development of the Smart Grid Solution like Siemens, ABB, Schneider, GE and etc. They have developed the devices that can support the Smart Grid System to be applied. The specific Hardware for Controlling, Protection and Communication within the Industrial Standard will help on every level of the system.
Here are the examples of ABB MicroSCADA X for Substation and Siemens SICAM PAS Application Station Automation. Starting from the Process Level, Bay Level, and the Substation Level or the Station Level is a better way to manage the system. Thanks to the IEC-61850 as the standard protocol communication in the automation substation level, it helps much when many vendors are involved within a system.
| Siemens | SIMATIC IPC | SICAM PAS, SICAM SCC, SIMATIC WinCC |
| ABB | SYS600C | MicroSCADA X SYS600 |
Besides that Solution, there is other options like the Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) device to communicate the Local system to Control Center. A device like SICAM A8000 from Siemens or ABB RTU 560 is the sample device that can help the local system communicate to the Control Center.
In general, it is called IED or Intelligent Electronic Device. Every hardware from each Smart Grid Solution Company has its own software to write the parameterization on every level within Substation Automation. Here is the example comparison of the IEDs Hardware and Software from Siemens and ABB.
| Siemens | SIPROTEC 5 | DIGSI 5 |
| ABB | Relion 650 series IEDs | PCM600 |