Siemens has claimed an Australia-first in substation automation with its IEC 61850 installation for transmission utility ElectraNet, which is the first implementation of IEC 61850 in a local utility.
Siemens vice president of energy, Steve Robinson, said that the project is significant in terms of process control technology.
“ElectraNet is the first implementation of IEC 61850 in an Australian transmission facility. IEC
61850 is the enabling technology required to integrate all protection, control, measurement and monitoring functions within the substation,” Robinson said.
“It also provides the means for high speed substation protection applications, interlocking and intertripping. The implementation of the IEC 61850 protocol provides ElectraNet with a fully-integrated control, monitoring and protection system that meets local and international standards.”
In the turnkey solution, Siemens designed, manufactured, supplied, installed and commissioned all components, including a substation automation system, protection schemes, ancillary equipment and portable switchroom.
ElectraNet will use the control room as a training facility for staff before it is installed.
“The control system is based on our SICAM PAS substation automation system and includes the Siprotec range of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and various third party IEDs,” Robinson said.
“We have also maximised the capabilities of the existing Ethernet communications network to provide the highest levels of security and stability for all of the IT architecture.”
The first Siemens IEC 61850 installations was installed in 2004 in Switzerland using SICAM PAS (Power Automation System) control system in accordance with the new standard throughout the substation. To date Siemens has installed over 1000 IEC 61850 based substations worldwide.