<p><em>Developing calibration methods for ‘substations of the future’ in digitised energy networks</em></p>
Developing calibration methods for ‘substations of the future’ in digitised energy networks
Due to the wider use of decentralised renewable energy resources, future electrical power grids require real-time control and monitoring to ensure their stability under more challenging conditions. Digital substation solutions are increasingly replacing analogue instrumentation which are approaching the end of their useful lifespan.
To support the European electrical power industry, Metrology Partnership project Metrology for digital substation instrumentation (21NRM02, Digital-IT) is working to provide the previously missing solutions for the calibration and timing of new types of digital substation instrumentation.
World first
As part of this work, the project consortium is working towards introducing a traceable timing calibration service for Precision Timing Protocol (PTPv2 – a protocol for clock synchronisation throughout a computer network) based substation devices, which will be the first in the world for this kind of calibration. Relevant standards published by IEC TC 38 require that intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) support PTPv2 as a primary means of time stamping measurement data. This means that the reported phase of grid signals is affected by the timing quality received through the PTPv2 protocol, which necessitates traceable calibration of PTPv2 timing as received by an IED. In practice, the consortium are working on establishing a link between a physical 1-pulse-per-second (1PPS) timing signal and PTPv2 link between a device under calibration and its master clock.
Acceptance of the digital substation as a key enabler of a smarter electricity grid of the future is strongly reliant on whether the technology can truly be relied on. Here metrology plays an important role, laying the foundation for reliability of data used for grid control and protection. This has been recognised by the project stakeholder community, including industry and standardisation bodies. IEC TC 38, the projects key stakeholder, has expressed significant interest towards the methodology the consortium is working on.
Once a traceable link between a physical timing standard and PTPv2 has been established, the findings will be reported to TC 38 as a recommendation for amending existing standards. A widely accepted and standardised method for IED phase displacement calibration will accelerate the uptake of digital substation technology and will benefit the European industry. In the EU and beyond, many companies already have large product portfolios and solutions for digital substations with customers lined up, unsure if the technology can truly deliver on the great promise it holds.
Project Coordinator Jari Hällström from MIKES said
‘Accurate timing in digital substations allows for precise time-stamping of events and data. This synchronisation helps in better coordination and control of the grid’.
This Metrology Partnership project has received funding from the European Partnership on Metrology, co-financed by the European Union Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme and from the Participating States.
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