PSPCL plans smart grid for three cities

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

It is hoped that soon, power breakdown because of faulty equipment will become a thing of the past in three upcoming smart cities of Punjab — Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.

To make this possible, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has awarded a contract to a Chandigarh-based firm for converting 55 substations in the three cities into a smart grid by equipping them with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) relays.

The cost of the project is Rs 12.5 crore.

The SCADA is a digital technology that allows two-way communication between the power utility and its customers. At the final stage of power distribution, system operators control electricity flow by balancing power generation and consumption, using SCADA systems at the control rooms.

The information is also analysed and solutions are automatically applied relating to regulating voltage levels, optimising efficiency, routing and generation.

Almost 80 per cent of the upgrade of these substations has been completed. The work will conclude soon. The smart-grid-enabled substations — 29 in Ludhiana, 14 in Amritsar and 12 in Jalandhar — will cater to 12.5 per cent of the total population of the state.

“Under the Centre’s smart city initiative, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar will have an urban eco-system which will drive economic growth through technological applications, infrastructural development and improved services. Assured electricity driven by smart grid applications such as the SCADA relays are an essential feature of any smart city,” said Hartek Singh, CMD, Hartek Group.

“The PSPCL has awarded a contract to our company to equip its substations with SCADA relays, which form an integral part of any smart grid. The automated and computerised applications used under the SCADA to detect faults and identify faulty equipment will not only reduce the need for manpower, but will also bring down the maintenance expenses. It will also ensure reliable and efficient power supply,” he said.

According to Hartek, smart grid infrastructure enables collection and storage of information related to any indication for troubleshooting and maintenance, thus making the power system smart and robust. “The outages are fewer and the time taken to rectify faults is considerably reduced,” Singh added.

Smart grid infrastructure enables collection and storage of information related to any indication for troubleshooting and maintenance, thus making the power system smart and robust.