HV switchgear in the digital age: Advancements and opportunities

High voltage switchgear is an integral part of the electricity grid which is used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment in a power system. Saifa Khalid, Analyst-II at PTR Inc. explores the critical technology and how it has evolved in the digital age of energy.

Recently, it has been observed that the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have integrated digital technologies with the traditional analog switchgear, which has in turn improved the performance and reliability of the equipment followed by paving the way for integration into a larger digital ecosystem.

OEMs for instance Hitachi Energy, Siemens Energy and General Electric are offering a wide range of digital products and solutions including high voltage digital electrical switchgear.

Impact of digitalisation on HV switchgear

Integration of digital technologies with the HV switchgear allows for more precise monitoring and control as compared to conventional switchgear, in turn leading to enhanced performance, reliability and sustainability. Digitalisation improves sustainability of the HV switchgear as it enables condition-based maintenance, reduces environmental impact and safety hazards.

On the other hand, remote monitoring and control of equipment reduces the need for personnel to work in hazardous environments.

Predictive maintenance lowers the risk of equipment failure and unplanned downtime whereas alerts and notifications in real time provide required information to human resources so that they can avoid safety risks.

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Following are some of the digital technologies/features that are facilitating the traditional analogue switchgear:

Real time data

To enable proactive maintenance aimed at reducing downtime and lowering repair costs digital technologies, for instance, sensors are deployed with the HV switchgear to detect potential issues.

Predictive maintenance

To predict maintenance requirements and reduce the risk of equipment failure of HV switchgear, data analytics can be deployed to identify patterns and trends in the performance of equipment which are indicative of a failure in future.

Remote monitoring

Remote monitoring of HV switchgear and real-time data collection to identify potential issues and schedule maintenance during off-peak hours is also enabled by digital technologies.

Control systems

Centralised control system is another technology that paves the way for monitoring and control of high voltage switchgear. These systems can also be used to reduce the risk of voltage fluctuations that at times lead to blackouts.

Digital twin

Digital twin is a digital technology which allows us to simulate performance of equipment (in our case HV switchgear), enables optimisation of design and identification of potential problems.

This technology can also facilitate maintenance personnel by allowing them to practice repairs and upgrades in a simulated environment.

Greater flexibility

Digital HV switchgear, if compared with conventional switchgear, is more adaptable and flexible which can also be reconfigured to meet evolving grid conditions and load requirements.

Improved safety

In order to protect human resources and prevent damage to the electricity grid digital switchgear can include additional safety features like automated shutdown mechanism. These safety features are absent in traditional analogue switchgear.

Increased efficiency

Digital technologies when integrated with the HV switchgear also allow them to optimise the power flow which in turn reduce losses.

When the losses are reduced, efficiency is increased and the operating cost of the HV switchgear is reduced, which is highly desirable.

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Obstacles and constraints in digitalisation of high voltage switchgear

In order to pave way for widespread adoption of digital HV switchgear, there are some obstacles and constraints that need to be addressed which include cyber security and data privacy, interoperability, skills and training, and cost.

Cybersecurity and data privacy

Although digital HV switchgear has its own benefits but cyberattacks are still a major concern for utilities as it can cause major damage to electricity grid, disrupt services, and put personnel at risk.

That is why it is of outmost importance that the digital equipment, including the digital electrical switchgear are protected against potential cyber-attacks and data privacy breaches.

Interoperability

In order to digitalise a HV electrical switchgear we may need to integrate devices and systems from different OEMs which in turn hampers interoperability at times because of differences in communication protocols, hardware and software.

For seamless integration of digital technologies with the electrical switchgear collaboration between the providers of digital technologies and solutions with the HV switchgear OEMs is required.

Skills and training

For the desired levels of adoption for digital switchgear OEMs and utilities need to raise a highly skilled workforce which is capable of designing, installing and maintaining digital systems.

However, professionals with required expertise in digital systems are not readily available which in turn sheds light on the importance of training the available human resource.

Cost

Cost is another major barrier in the widespread adoption of digital HV switchgear. This is especially true for smaller utilities and businesses which do not afford the digital HV switchgear that is more expensive than conventional switchgear.

It is noteworthy that in order to add value to their system end users look for cost effective solutions.

Looking Ahead

The global HV switchgear market is undergoing a transition mainly due to technological advancements and evolving trends in the industry.

Integration of digital technologies with high voltage electrical switchgear is becoming popular as it offers a wide range of benefits including increased flexibility, enhanced safety, improved efficiency and data driven decision making.

It is noteworthy that it is not just the electrical switchgear, but the entire power grid industry is observing a major shift towards digitalisation in recent years and this trend is expected to continue in the future as well.

However, stakeholders in the sector must address bottlenecks that impede integration of digital technologies with the HV switchgear including issues linked with cyber security and data privacy, interoperability, skills and training and cost.

Original equipment manufacturers on the other hand should focus on developing innovative digital switchgear products and solutions that meet the requirements of the market in a cost-effective manner.

Furthermore, to remove the bottlenecks that impede the deployment of digital switchgear technologies stakeholders including utilities, regulator and OEMs need to collaborate so that the benefits are realised across the entire power grid ecosystem.

About the author

Saifa Khalid is a senior analyst at PTR Inc.

Her main area of interest is power systems. Currently, she leads the power grid research team in developing PTR’s syndicated power grid services and manages custom research projects for Fortune 500 clients globally.

The topics under her mandate include HV switchgear, MV switchgear, power transformers, distribution transformers, substation automation, power factor correction, etc.

Saifa comes from a technical background and has a BSc. degree in Electrical Engineering.