Ulyanovsk Distribution Grids, the branch of Rosseti Volga (the brand of IDGC of Volga, PJSC) has started a project on creation of a pilot digital power distribution zone (PDZ). The pilot cluster for testing Smart Grid technologies for distribution grid companies will be implemented in the suburban area of Ulyanovsk on the basis of the grid sections and power centers of 110/10 kV Lugovaya Substation and 6/10 kV Bely Kluch Integrated Transformer Substation. Ulyanovsk Region has been chosen for the project on the basis of a detailed analysis of the matrix of digital PDZ selection criteria, with due account for the rating of all power distribution zones of IDGC of Volga.

The pilot project includes three components: automation, process changes and digitalization. In the process of automation, 20 intelligent switching devices (reclosers) and short-circuit current indicators will be installed, 34 transformer substations will be equipped with a technical record-keeping system on the territory of the pilot zone by 2022. The retrofit of nine 10 kV cells at 110/10 kV Lugovaya Substation, including the replacement of existing oil switches to vacuum ones, existing protections to microprocessor ones, installation of surge protectors, changing of existing current transformers and voltage transformers, will be an important component of a project.

The main problem to be solved in the framework of grid digitalization is the creation of an information model of a digital PDZ (CIM-model) for the unification and informatization of technical solutions for electrical grid management as well as the integration of all grid components into the advanced distribution management system ADMS with the functions of supervisory control and data acquisition subsystem (SCADA), outage management subsystem (OMS), geographic information system (GIS), etc.

 Due to the implemented measures, maximum observability and manageability of the grid in real time, control of parameters and modes of operation, self-diagnosis and self-recovery of the grid is planned to be achieved, i.e. the system will automatically identify the damaged section of the grid and independently restore power supply to consumers according to backup schemes having performed all the necessary switchings automatically.

 The pilot project for the creation of a pilot digital PDZ in Ulyanovsk Region is being implemented in order to improve the efficiency of the distribution grid complex through the use of innovative automation and digitalization technologies. The pilot project is intended to perfect the applied technologies and confirm the resulting effects for their further scaling.