IANS | 08 Mar, 2023
The
country will soon have a modern and smart power transmission system
with features such as real-time monitoring and automated operation of
grid, better situational assessment, capability to have increased share
of renewable capacity in the power-mix, enhanced utilization of
transmission capacity, greater resilience against cyber-attacks as well
as natural disasters, centralized and data driven decision-making,
reduction in forced outages through self-correcting systems etc.
These
and other recommendations are part of a report of a task force set up by
the Power Ministry in Sep, 2021 under the chairmanship of CMD,
POWERGRID to suggest ways for modernization of Transmission Sector and
making it smart & future ready. The other members of the Task Force
included representatives from State Transmission Utilities, Central
Electricity Authority, Central Transmission Utilities, MeiTY, IIT
Kanpur, NSGPMU and EPTA
The
report of the committee was accepted by the government after
deliberations chaired by Union Power & NRE Minister Shri R. K. Singh
last week.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized that a
modern transmission grid is vital to achieve the government’s vision to
provide 24x7 reliable and affordable power to the people and also meet
the sustainability goals.
Singh said that a fully automated,
digitally controlled, fast responsive grid which is resilient to cyber
attacks and natural disasters is the need of the hour. The Minister said
that such a system should ensure isolation of specific areas in case of
any contingency, so as to protect the grid and prevent larger outages.
Appreciating the efforts of the Task Force, Shri Singh directed the CEA
to formulate necessary standards and regulations for adoption of
identified technological solutions and set benchmark performance levels
so as to build a robust and modern transmission network in the country.
The
Task force in its report has recommended a bouquet of technological and
digital solutions which can be adopted to make the state transmission
grids future ready.These recommendations have been clubbed under
categories of modernization of existing transmission system; use of
advanced technology in construction & supervision, operations &
management; smart & future-ready transmission system; and
up-skilling of workforce.
The Task Force has recommended Centralized
Remote Monitoring, Operation of Substations including SCADA, Flexible AC
Transmission devices (FACTs), Dynamic Line Loading system (DLL), Wide
Area Measurement System (WAMS) using PMUs and data analytics, Hybrid AC /
HVDC system, Predictive maintenance technique using AI/ML algorithms,
HTLS Conductors, Process Bus based Protection Automation and Control
GIS/Hybrid Substation, Cyber Security, Energy Storage System and Drones
& Robots in construction/inspection of transmission assets.
The use
of robots is expected to not only minimize human intervention and
minimize life risks/hazards but also save time with while ensuring
accuracy during construction and maintenance.
The Task force also
recommended benchmarks for transmission network availability and voltage
control based on performance of global transmission utilities.
While
the short-term to medium term recommendations will be implemented over
1-3 years, the long-term interventions are proposed to be implemented
over a period of 3-5 years.