Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Tensio TN AS To Deliver Fully Digital, Eco-Efficient Substation in Norway

Hitachi ABB Power Grids and the Norwegian power grid operator, Tensio TN AS, are collaborating to deliver by June 2021 a new, eco-efficient, digital, 145-kV substation at Sutterø, with the project to extend and increase the reliability of the electricity grid around Stjørdal, outside Trondheim in Central Norway.

In response to the growing population, increased demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging and the electrification of regional rail services, the region needs to boost its eco-efficient power supply. As Norway moves towards ending the sale of fossil-fuel-powered cars from 2025, EVs make up half of all new cars sold, now accounting for one in 10 vehicles on the country’s roads.

To help meet this upsurge in electricity demand, Hitachi ABB Power Grids is collaborating with Tensio TN, using virtual reality design and engineering tools to co-create an integrated substation solution with a reduced physical and environmental footprint. This solution includes an eco-efficient gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), with AirPlus™ gas, replacing the industry standard sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), with fiber optic cables instead of traditional copper cables, where possible.

“Working closely with customers to create and deliver effective, environmentally-friendly solutions is of strategic importance to us,” Niklas Persson, managing director of the Grid Integration Business Unit at Hitachi ABB Power Grids, said. “Our collaboration with Tensio TN on this project exemplifies this approach and we are very excited to be piloting this new and innovative solution to help facilitate a stronger, smarter and greener grid in the Stjørdal area.”

Tensio CEO Trygve Kvernland said: “With a growing population and associated electrification demands, Stjørdal requires increased power capacity and a rock-solid grid, now and for the future. We are committed to streamlining through digitalization, to simplify control and operation, while minimizing our physical and environmental footprint and reducing operational expenditure.”

The project brief emphasized safety, eco-efficiency and a compact footprint, in addition to enhancing the substation design and operations through digitalization. The compact design of Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ GIS solution, together with the digitalized design of the automation system, enables a reduction of up to 70% in space compared to a conventional air-insulated switchgear substation.

This substation also includes extensive digital technology offering, enabling data collection and sharing, resulting in fast decision-making support to operators in critical situations. This comprises Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ industry-leading Station Automation System (SAS) with MicroSCADA X, Relion® 670 series Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) for enhanced asset protection, as well as advanced communication and security systems. In addition, RelCare™ service will embed a state-of-the-art, digital Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) application, and Transformer Analyzer will reduce the risk of transformer failure by intelligent analysis of transformer protection data.