Substation automation and the EMS

Many electric utilities are moving strongly into substation automation, which is generally perceived as involving the use of intelligent electronic devices (TEDs) as the primary source of data from the substation. A substation automation system can perform many functions. One is to serve as the means for getting data out of the substation and into the SCADA system; thereby replacing the traditional RTU with its associated transducers and control relays. One of the results of doing this is that the volume of data available to the SCADA system is increased by one or more orders of magnitude. This paper begins with a brief overview of the main elements of substation automation. It then considers some of the typical features and functions that make up the significant features of a SCADA/EMS/DMS (energy management system/distribution management system). The potential impacts of the increased data volume are discussed, including those which imply the need to make fundamental changes in the way SCADA systems are designed and implemented. Finally, some of the new opportunities and potential benefits of the application of substation automation techniques are described.