European Smart Grid Outlook
Down-Line Distribution Automation
European network operators always do a lot to improve the bottom line of energy delivery (e.g. remote control of line reclosers, monitoring and control of medium voltage feeder equipment) but there are challenges ahead. Regarding the automation of devices outside the substation fence (i.e., out on the feeders themselves) an assessment and opportunity screening shows room for improvement for such a down-line distribution automation approach (e.g. automated feeder switches and automated Fault Location, Isolation and Supply Restoration solutions). Some European network operators that are at the forefront have already installed one or more reclosers down-line from the medium voltage substation along selected feeders.
Content of the international market report
| 1 | Down-Line Distribution Automation | 7 |
| 1.1 | Improving the Bottom Line of Power Supply | 7 |
| 1.2 | Customer Requirements for Reliability | 8 |
| 2 | MV-Networks | 11 |
| 2.1 | Network Configurations | 16 |
| 2.2 | Radial Systems | 17 |
| 2.3 | Looped Systems | 19 |
| 2.3.1 | Ring Main Units | 20 |
| 2.3.2 | Loop-primary system - radial secondary system | 22 |
| 2.3.3 | Primary selective system - secondary radial | 22 |
| 2.3.4 | Two source primary - secondary selective system | 22 |
| 3 | Power Delivery Operations | 25 |
| 3.1 | Outage Management | 29 |
| 3.1.1 | Fault locating and fault indicators | 31 |
| 3.1.2 | Fault distance computation techniques | 34 |
| 3.1.3 | Automatic Reclosing | 34 |
| 3.2 | Protection | 36 |
| 3.2.1 | Short Circuit Protection | 36 |
| 3.2.2 | Earth Fault Protection | 36 |
| 3.2.3 | Overcurrent Protection | 38 |
| 3.2.3.1 | Circuit Breakers | 41 |
| 3.2.3.2 | Reclosers | 42 |
| 3.2.3.3 | Sectionalizers | 44 |
| 4 | Technology and Market | 47 |
| 4.1 | Feeder Automation Level | 47 |
| 4.1.1 | Semi-automatic solutions | 50 |
| 4.1.2 | Centralized Communications | 50 |
| 4.1.3 | Advanced Automation of Network Operations (Auto-Reconfiguration) | 53 |
| 4.1.4 | Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) | 56 |
| 4.2 | European Market Size | 58 |
| 4.3 | Selected Manufactures of Down-Line Equipment and Solutions | 59 |
| 4.3.1 | ABB | 60 |
| 4.3.2 | AK Power Solutions | 62 |
| 4.3.3 | Cooper/Cannon | 62 |
| 4.3.4 | Driescher | 63 |
| 4.3.5 | General Electric | 64 |
| 4.3.6 | G&W | 64 |
| 4.3.7 | Hawker Siddeley | 65 |
| 4.3.8 | Joslyn High Voltage | 65 |
| 4.3.9 | Noja | 66 |
| 4.3.10 | Nortech | 66 |
| 4.3.11 | Radius | 67 |
| 4.3.12 | Schneider Electric / Nu Lec Industries | 68 |
| 4.3.13 | Siemens | 68 |
| 4.3.14 | S&C Electric Company | 69 |
| 4.3.15 | Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) | 71 |
| 5 | Use Cases | 74 |
| 5.1 | Deployment status | 74 |
| 5.2 | Europe | 75 |
| 5.2.1 | Finland | 75 |
| 5.2.2 | France | 76 |
| 5.2.3 | Ireland | 76 |
| 5.2.4 | Sweden | 77 |
| 5.2.5 | UK | 79 |
| 5.2.5.1 | EDF UK London | 79 |
| 5.2.5.2 | EON UK | 80 |
| 5.2.5.3 | Scottish Power | 81 |
| 5.3 | North-America | 83 |
| 5.3.1 | Hydro Quebec | 83 |
| 5.3.2 | WE Energies | 84 |
| 5.3.3 | Progress Energy Carolina | 85 |
| 5.3.4 | Southern California Edison | 85 |
