ABB and TRANSCO roll out a first-of-its-kind ‘substation to substation’ digital solution

Taking its strategic relationship with Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO) forward, ABB will deliver a first-of-its-kind ‘substation to substation’ digital solution, as part of the 400 kilovolt (kV) Al Dhafra switching station project. ABB will introduce a complete range of technologies and innovative concepts to the unique pilot project.

As a key component of smart power grids, digital substations remove the last electrical connection between high voltage equipment and protection and control equipment. The solution provides utilities with high quality data for faster and better-informed decision making and at the same time, enables a safer working environment.

Initiated by TRANSCO, the project includes a range of ABB products and solutions necessary to achieve a complete ‘end-to-end’ digital substation solution. It introduces new and innovative fully digital control, protection and communication features for mission-critical applications and is part of wider innovation enabling the digital transformation of the power industry.

“As an innovative, world-class provider of sustainable water and electricity transmission services, TRANSCO is always looking to deploy new technologies to optimize our systems and operations as we transition to a digitalized grid. Through this collaboration with ABB, we are able to build on our reputation for secure, reliable and economical transmission services, while embracing innovation and organizational excellence across our entire value chain,” commented Dr. Salem Al Harthi, Projects Director, TRANSCO.

“With the advancement in digital substation technology, ABB and TRANSCO are pioneering a truly unique substation-to-substation solution that will better utilize the existing digital technology, whilst improving availability and reliability of the mission-critical application,” said Dr. Mostafa AlGuezeri, Managing Director of ABB’s Power Grids business in the UAE, Gulf and Near East.“ ABB and TRANSCO have a long-standing association and the Al Dhafra project further strengthens this relationship,” he added.

The project not only achieves the digitalized end-to-end protection concept, but also introduces a unique application that is the first of its kind to be delivered in the region. The ABB solution allows TRANSCO to guarantee performance and correct operation of the application, compare the availability of service and at the same time, provide substation network separation.

As part of the project, ABB will supply its industry leading protection relays, merging units, fiber-optic communication equipment and gas-insulated switchgear with non-conventional instrument transformers. ABB will also provide local support to the project and will help TRANSCO evaluate their strategy in further adopting and deploying digital substations.

Webpage: Digital Substations

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