A self-healing Smart Grid is on Asia’s horizon

Electricity distribution is on the cusp of a major transformation in Asia.

While Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) has been the mainstay of Asia’s electricity distribution systems, the advantages of a communication-driven, self-healing Smart Grid are becoming abundantly clear.

As their networks experience unprecedented growth in size and complexity, Asian utilities that were once limited to SCADA are now looking at a compelling new opportunity to evolve from purely centralized-control-based networks into systems that leverage the combined benefits of centralized and distributed-intelligence-based Smart Grid technologies.

According to market analyst NanoMarkets, the Asian Smart Grid market will reach $22 billion by 2015. With the help of innovative, global Smart Grid solution providers, such as U.S.-based S&C Electric Company, Asia’s burgeoning power infrastructure can be swiftly transformed into a state-of-the-art system that incorporates self-healing technologies, while leveraging existing SCADA investments.

Putting Distributed Intelligence to Work
Electric utility SCADA systems require a fully staffed control center to manage the network. But with the availability of peer-to-peer communication and distributed intelligence, the self-healing electrical network is available today, significantly improving grid reliability and minimizing the duration and magnitude of outages.

As the industry leader in distributed intelligence, S&C Electric Company is putting distributed intelligence to work with an innovative, universal Smart Grid solution: the IntelliTEAM SG™ Automatic Restoration System. IntelliTEAM SG provides scalable, distributed-intelligence-based fault isolation and reconfiguration—and it can be fully integrated with SCADA, enhancing existing capabilities with automatic self-healing. IntelliTEAM SG improves service reliability by providing restoration without the delays characteristic of dispatcher-operated or centrally-controlled systems. It supports complex systems of virtually any size and accommodates tie points from multiple sources, including renewable energy and stored energy sources. It can also work with other manufacturers’ intelligent devices.

IntelliTEAM SG monitors real-time current and voltage throughout the distribution system and uses this information to make smart switching decisions, acting locally before breakers or re-closers lock out.

IntelliTEAM SG can respond to events and implement switching within 5 seconds. Such swift response enables the balancing of renewable generation, energy storage, and peak demand mitigation—allowing the grid to self-heal in a timeframe that customers value. With its virtually unlimited scalability, IntelliTEAM SG is the most efficient, cost effective self-healing Smart Grid solution available. The IntelliTEAM SG Designer workspace is used to create a single-line diagram of your system.

Integrated Solutions for a Smarter Grid
IntelliTEAM SG works with S&C’s IntelliRupter® PulseCloser, a breakthrough in overhead distribution system protection and unique alternative to conventional automatic circuit re-closers.

IntelliRupter uses revolutionary “Pulseclosing Technology™” to verify that a line is clear of faults before initiating a close operation, significantly reducing stress on system components.

Real-time information and power exchange among Smart Grid components demands high-speed, fully integrated, two-way communication, down to the individual customer level. S&C SpeedNet™ Radios make that possible.

Optimized for IntelliTEAM SG, SpeedNet™ Radios provide intelligent wireless network connectivity when installed in IntelliRupter PulseClosers, Scada-Mate® and Scada-Mate CX™ Switches, and S&C’s remote supervisory gear for underground distribution applications. Working synergistically, S&C’s IntelliTEAM SG, IntelliRupter PulseCloser, and SpeedNet Radios are creating a more intelligent, responsive grid.

For SCADA users, the IntelliTEAM SG Automatic Restoration System can provide a smooth migration path to distributed-intelligence-based systems. Allowing users to start with a smallscale system and expand as needed, IntelliTEAM SG also enables them to leverage their existing SCADA investment as part of an overall Smart Grid solution. S&C’s IntelliLAB provides a modern training room environment for testing IntelliTEAM SG software on up to 48 control platforms at a time.

Partnering with a Proven Smart Grid Company
In addition to products for the Smart Grid, S&C offers comprehensive, fully integrated professional services that can be customized for diverse distribution automation needs.

As a global provider of award-winning, field-proven Smart Grid solutions, S&C Electric Company is enabling utilities around the world to improve service reliability, increase operating efficiency, improve asset optimization, and integrate renewable energy sources into the grid. With Smart Grid now on the horizon in Asia, utilities need to partner with technology innovators such as S&C to begin realizing the benefits of distributed intelligence and self-healing technologies.