Substation Virtualization 101
New advances in computer technology could push SCADA systems out of the way in favor of substation virtualization. What is substation virtualization and how can it help emergency preparedness? Read on and find out!
What is Substation Virtualization?
Let’s start with the concept of virtualization in computing, which refers to remote versions of an asset (server, network, etc.) processed through a framework that splits the asset into multiple execution environments. Cloud computing – the process of utilizing remote servers online to store and process data rather than using a local server or PC for this purpose – is a good example of this.
In a nutshell, something akin to cloud computing can be used to ‘virtualize’ various substation control & monitoring system (SCMS) activities like load curtailment, automatic voltage control, fault monitoring, and more (read this article for a full list and some additional supporting technical details).
There are several benefits of this, including cost reduction, performance optimization, and increased access to data. Benefits specific to emergency preparedness include:
- Greater reliability via access to cleaner, more holistic data that can enhance the ability to detect equipment issues before they turn into failures.
- More efficient restoration by using data to optimize the damage assessment and crew dispatch processes.
- Increased cyber-security – and substation security in general – through the deployment of modern software and security protocols.
As you can see, the idea of substation virtualization is that it can help optimize blue sky performance as well as improve utilities’ ability to react to and recover from an emergency. A true win-win!
