Substation Modernization - Coordinated Transmission and Distribution Lines

Grid modernization is crucial for the utility industry to adopt generation from diverse sources such as solar, natural gas, coal, or any combination thereof. Future load growth forecasting and existing transmission and distribution infrastructure capabilities must be realized when designing a modern high voltage substation. Here, we present the design and construction of a substation in a city center area. The economic aspects and risk factors of different bus configurations to accommodate the existing transmission and distribution facilities for the substation design were considered. The substation system is comprised of 138 kV transmission and 13.2 kV distribution networks. Modeling and design data were compared with the after-construction data obtained in a peak demand period. Realworld data demonstrated that planning is crucial to design and construct a substation. The breaker-and-a-half configuration for the transmission network and ring configuration topology for the distribution network provided maximum redundancy for the substation design. This configuration ensures proper coordination between the transmission and distribution systems for optimal power flow frameworks.