S&C Electric Company, a Swansea-based smart grid leader shaping the future of reliable electric delivery, has announced the launch of new solutions to help utilities realize a self-healing smart grid.
SWANSEA, 10th May 2012 – S&C Electric Company, a Swansea-based smart grid leader shaping the future of reliable electric delivery, has announced the launch of new solutions to help utilities realize a self-healing smart grid.
These products help reduce outage time and give utilities better grid management capabilities, ultimately improving the reliability and stability of power delivery for customers.
“Grid reliability and efficiency are always priorities for electric utilities,” says Mike Edmonds, S&C Vice President – Strategic Solutions. “The latest additions to S&C’s smart grid portfolio make it possible for utilities to improve both reliability and efficiency and manage the deployment of grid automation.”
The new product advancements integrate automatic restoration with grid optimisation solutions. Also, enhanced communications system tools help simplify the management of distribution automation solutions for utilities.
TripSaver® II
TripSaver II is the next generation of S&C’s award-winning protection products for utility distribution grids. TripSaver II brings distributed intelligence to secondary distribution lines, reducing outage durations and improving reliability. New features expand its application range and allow for use in more places on the grid, including a higher 6.3 kA fault-interrupting rating and a lower minimum trip current of 10 A. It also offers additional indicators that simplify use for operating personnel at utilities.
“TripSaver II provides an economical approach toward automating secondary electric distribution lines. Secondary lines typically don’t serve enough load to justify the cost of a full-scale distribution automation solution,” says Phil Fahey, S&C Vice President – Switching and Protection Products. “It’s a self-contained, factory-programmed solution that can utilities can quickly and easily deploy in the field.”
Integrated Solutions for Automatic Restoration and Grid Optimisation
S&C also announces new features for its IntelliTeam® VV Volt-Var Optimisation System, which is now easily integrated with automatic restoration applications such as S&C’s IntelliTeam® SG. IntelliTeam VV can now track the status of automated switching devices. When it observes that automated switches have operated in response to an outage, IntelliTeam VV updates the system topology and then continues its optimisation algorithm.
“Grid-based applications like IntelliTeam VV give utilities control to realize efficiency improvements and, thus, cost savings,” says Chris McCarthy, Director – Automation Systems, S&C. “This new functionality takes IntelliTeam VV a step further with optimisation based on the real-time configuration of the grid, which provides even greater improvements in grid efficiency and reliability.”
Enhanced Communication Systems for DA Deployment
In addition, S&C launches its new IntelliTeam® CNMS Network Communication Management system. that allows utilities to manage S&C SpeedNet™ Radio networks from a central location, making it easier than ever to support communication systems that can meet the stringent requirements of a distribution automation application. The IntelliTeam CNMS monitors Ethernet and wireless interface performance of each radio and alerts operators of impending trouble due to tree growth, building construction or other causes. The system also supports continuous monitoring and management of radio configuration and network topology.
“Today, more utilities are realising they need a network of communication networks to support the diverse requirements of varied smart grid applications,” says Ken Monro, S&C Vice President – Communication Systems. “The new IntelliTeam CNMS simplifies the work needed to support this approach by providing utilities with the additional tools needed to ensure optimal performance of a critical system and distribution automation solutions.”
About S&C Electric Company
S&C Electric Company Europe is helping the UK to transition to the low carbon economy, by maximising existing grid assets, and assimilating distributed generation and demand technologies.
S&C Electric Company Europe Ltd, the European division of S&C Electric Company, applies the organisation’s 100 year heritage of innovation to address the challenges facing the world’s power grids and thus to shape the future of reliable electricity delivery.
Additional information about S&C is available at www.sandc.com, or at www.twitter.com/sandc_uk