GE Vernova collaborates with SWI on advanced substation monitoring tech

GE Vernova and Systems With Intelligence (SWI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop advanced substation monitoring solutions.

Through the collaboration the companies aim to integrate technologies like gas sensing, bushing monitoring and infrared thermography, along with AI and ML.

The goal is to advance grid asset management by integrating SWI’s infrared thermography and touchless monitoring systems with GE Vernova’s Grid Automation business’s expertise in monitoring and diagnostic solutions of grid assets.

The initial focus of the collaboration will be on substation monitoring, where the companies will integrate their leading technologies to deliver converged monitoring and diagnostic intelligence, enhancing asset management capabilities.

This could streamline monitoring for utilities and TSOs, enabling earlier issue detection and leading to a more reliable, efficient and stable power grid.

Have you read:
GE Vernova to supply high voltage tech for 134 Algerian substations
GE Vernova to supply Chilean projects with grid stabilising technology

Commenting in a release was Graham McGuigan, product line leader for Monitoring & Diagnostics at GE Vernova: “Today’s asset managers are flooded with data from a myriad of sensing devices provided by various vendors. This often leads to fragmented data silos, requiring multiple software tools to manage and analyze the data independently.

“Our collaboration with SWI is a step towards unifying these data streams into a more cohesive and intelligent monitoring system.”

Angelo Rizzo, president and CEO of SWI, added: “By combining different sensing techniques, we can create solutions that offer enhanced diagnostic intelligence while simplifying the user experience. This collaboration is a significant move towards achieving that goal.”

The first tangible outcome of this collaboration will be the integration of SWI’s fixed infrared sensors into GE Vernova’s DGA 900 Plus, a multi-gas transformer monitoring system that monitors the health of power transformers by detecting early signs of problems and helps prevent transformer failures, ensuring a reliable and efficient power supply.

This enhanced new solution, expected to be commercially available in early 2025, will allow asset managers to incorporate infrared thermography directly within the DGA 900 Plus platform, which already includes capabilities for dissolved gas analysis, bushing monitoring and predictive modelling.

Looking ahead, GE Vernova and SWI plan to expand their collaboration to include the integration of SWI’s pan/tilt substation-level infrared sensors within GridBeats Asset Vision substation monitoring solution, further advancing the capabilities of electrical grid asset management.

GridBeats is GE Vernova’s Grid Automation business’s portfolio of software-defined automation solutions for grid digitalisation.