Design and Implementation of a Substation Automation Unit

The increment of distributed energy resources such as small photovoltaic plants or microcogeneration systems, together with the increase of electric vehicles connected to the grid, is bringing new challenges to distribution system operators (DSOs). In order to support DSOs to face such new challenges, this paper proposes a new solution based on a framework for the implementation of substation automation units. This framework supports the development of smart distribution systems solutions. The monitoring and control functionalities of the proposed solution are decentralized and, therefore, closer to the associated field devices compared to traditional solutions. Thus, the proposed approach allows us to increase performance and to reduce the system complexity by avoiding the concentration of data in one single point. An automation unit placed in the electrical substation is proposed and characterized for automation in distribution networks. Test results in laboratory and real-world environments will show some results of the proposed solution.