Creating a sustainable protective relay asset strategy

Microprocessor based relays with their rapid pace of technology change and high integration of functions will be at the center of protective relaying implementation for the foreseeable future. The industry has more than 20 years of experience with these devices, and is still learning about how to deal most effectively with their characteristics. Notably, generations of protection must be updated far more often in the future. It is the responsibility of the relay practitioner and the owner to implement a sustainable relay asset strategy. As discussed in this paper there are many factors to consider; there are also market variables that will play a role in how utilities approach this task. Each owner will need to examine its particular systems and choose the course to take - no one plan will suit all users.