By Nokia.com
Publication Date: 2025-05-06 12:00:00
Building a new network for the virtualized substation
Power utilities are working hard to prepare their grids for growing power demand, extreme weather events and new reliability and sustainability imperatives. Modernizing the operational technology (OT) in substations is a critical piece of the puzzle.
For most utilities, the main focus of substation OT modernization will be to digitalize primary equipment data through the use of IEC 61850 protocols. Some pioneering utilities are taking a step further by virtualizing protection automation and control (PAC) systems.
This advanced approach will simplify substation engineering and deployments and make it easier to use the latest IT innovations to optimize substation operations.
But utilities have important groundwork to do. To make their digitalization and virtualization investments pay off, utilities will need to rethink and rearchitect their grid communications networks.
Why virtualize substation OT?
OT virtualization is rapidly gaining the attention of utilities because it opens a path to simpler, more agile and more sustainable substation operations. PAC devices such as intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) tend to be vendor specific and have all their key components and capabilities embedded. Utilities resort to complex hardwiring to connect these devices to primary equipment such as current transformers (CTs) and voltage transformers (VTs). This involves lots of effort, resources and cost.
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