Ulyanovsk Grids branch of the Rosseti Volga branch (a brand of IDGC of Volga, PJSC) continues implementing a project to create a pilot zone for the Digital Power Distribution Zone. The systematic transition of the company to the technologies of “smart grids” is carried out in accordance with the concept of “Digital Transformation 2030” developed by Rosseti, PJSC.

The first model of a modern automated power system in the Ulyanovsk region will be created in the suburban area of the regional center on the basis of network sections and power supply centers of the 110/10 kV Lugovaya substation and the 6/10 kV Bely Kluch package transformer substation.

The Ulyanovsk region was selected for the implementation of the project on the basis of a detailed rating of all areas of the electric grids of Rosseti Volga. One of the main criteria was the presence of a large number of sections of overhead lines and transformer substations that are on the balance of third-party organizations, where technological disruptions mainly occur, leading to a shutdown.

In addition to applying directly the basic digital technologies of Smart Grid, digital transformation provides for the reconstruction of the existing power grid infrastructure. As part of the project, 20 reclosers will be installed in the pilot energy sector, 34 transformer substations will be equipped with a technical metering system.

An important component will be the modification of 9 cells of 10 kV of the 110/10 Lugovaya substation, which implies the replacement of oil circuit breakers with vacuum ones and existing protections with microprocessor ones, as well as the installation of surge arresters. Direct digitalization of the grid will consist in the integration of all components into the ADMS system, with the functions of the subsystems of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), outage management system (OMS), and geographic information system (GIS).

As a result, the built-in system will be able to automatically identify the damaged area, while maintaining power supply to the main part of consumers, and, as far as possible, independently restore power according to the backup scheme. In this case, all necessary switching should be done automatically or, in extreme cases, using remote dispatch control.

The first stage of the project has already been completed: a network survey has been carried out, design and survey and construction and installation works, the organization of communication and data transmission channels has been completed, 8 reclosers have been installed.

Until 2022, during the second stage, power engineers will have to complete all construction, installation and commissioning works, implement the implementation of dispatch and technological control systems (SCADA, DMS, GIS, etc.), carry out work on the implementation of intelligent switching devices and create an integrated support system and information security management.

The implementation of the project will ensure maximum grid observability and controllability in real time, control of parameters and operating modes, self-diagnosis and grid self-restoration. Ultimately, power engineers plan to reduce accident rates by 50%, reduce the average time to restore power supply in the event of a technological disruption in the grid, and reduce the time of technological connection of new consumers to the grid by 1.5 times.