Enel’s E-Distribuzione completes smart grids project in Campania
Image courtesy E-Distribuzione
E-Distribuzione has completed a smart grids project to strengthen electricity networks in the city of Campania, introducing digital communication devices and intelligent measurement for network control and monitoring.
The PON Project (National Operational Program for Enterprises and Competitiveness 2014-202) carried out works to digitise the network in Campania in the municipality and province of Avellino, Italy.
The project involved several interventions to increase the connection of renewable energy plants, namely by installing digital communication devices and intelligent measurements for the electricity network.
The €8 million ($8.4 million) project included a series of interventions on primary cabins, secondary transformation cabins and satellite centres.
The Avellino Nord primary cabin was expanded, using a three-phase transformer to convert the high voltage network to medium voltage, which E-Distribuzione says is necessary for the capillary energy distribution system.
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The transformer has a power of 40MVA, installation of which entailed the expansion of the medium voltage electrical panel.
In this way, says the Enel-owned company, they were able to expand energy transport capacity and improve the operating conditions of the system and its performance. This was also improved through the introduction of latest-generation electronic protection and control systems, capable of implementing Smart Grid functions.
According to E-Distribuzione, these devices and intelligent equipment allow for advanced management of the electricity grid and increase in the share of energy needs covered by the growing presence of distributed generation plants from renewable sources spread across the territory.
The initiative has has allowed for more advanced automation of grid management by way of Smart Fault Selection (SFS). This includes automatic selection of faulty network sections, an increased capacity for monitoring the operation of the grid, a more advanced voltage control at the level of the primary cabin busbar, in addition to the automation of the low voltage line switches.
Interventions were also carried out in the satellite centres linked to the primary cabin, with the digitalisation of the management and control systems, and the construction of new lines. This includes five new connections exiting from the Avellino Nord primary cabin, for a total of 23.7km and the strengthening of one of the medium voltage lines for 0.6 km.
Regarding the secondary cabins, the SFS automation systems have been implemented, which allow for increased flexibility in fault selection.
According to the company, the PON programme of interventions implemented in the municipality of Avellino is within the framework of investments that E-Distribuzione is carrying out throughout their Italian territory to make its network resilient and digitalised.