
Swiss technology company ABB is set to upgrade an air insulated substation (AIS), built for the Belarus Ministry of Energy and its transmission utility Mogilevenergo.
The substation upgrade is expected to improve controllability and reliability, as well as reduce operating costs.
ABB will deliver protection and control equipment, an ABB Ability Micro supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and a digital process bus. This will enable interoperable communication between vendors through Ethernet cables rather than copper wires.
Additionally, ABB will also deliver digitally enabled high-voltage products such as Fiber Optics Current Sensors (FOCS-FS) and Disconnecting Circuit Breakers (DCBs) to Riko, an engineering and procurement (EPC) company.
The Swiss technology company claims that its Ability-based technology will improve safety and security in the world’s largest digital substation.
ABB Grid Automation business head Massimo Danieli said: “ABB continues to be at the forefront of digital grid technology development with a range of digital products and software, substation automation, control and protection solutions, from the field to the boardroom.
“We are pleased to support Belarus’ digital substation, reinforcing our position as a partner of choice for a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”
According to the company, digitalisation allows easy integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology systems, which in turn enables operators at control centres to derive important insights in real time, thereby resulting in prevention of critical failures.
Belarus, with over nine million people, is experiencing demand in electricity, and digital technology is a core aspect that will allow it to cope with future changes with respect to power generation and demand.