The challenge
The communication between the primary system and the control system at a transformer station in today’s power grid is currently analogue. Hundreds of copper wires transmit large amounts of data to the control system, where the signals are digitalised. These stations impose major constraints on construction and use, and stand in the way of the smart and digital power system of the future.
The goal
In ECoDiS, the goal is to develop, test and pilot several digital stations, both in the transmission grid and in the distribution grid, in order to develop expertise and to use a standardised bus that, among other things, allows components from several different suppliers to be implemented.
The project
In the project, the analogue signals are replaced by a digital interface, called a process bus, similar to what Statnett, the ECoDiS project manager, has developed at Furuset station. In the long term, the signals from the primary system will be communicated to the control system over a smaller number of optical fibre cables. Preliminary results show that, among other things, digital stations take 30 per cent less time to build and are more compact, safer for those who work there, and easier to control and diagnose remotely than analogue stations.
Project team members
The Research Council of Norway (RCN)
SINTEF (Project Manager)
Statnett
Tensio Nett
Elvia
BKK
Skagerak Nett
Agder Energi Nett
Eidsiva Nett
NVE
Funding
The Research Council of Norway (RCN)
SINTEF (Project Manager)
Statnett
Tensio Nett
Elvia
BKK
Skagerak Nett
Agder Energi Nett
Eidsiva Nett
NVE