DIGSUB: Transition towards digital substations: ensuring enhanced reliability in digital substations through failure mode and effect analysis (DIGSUB)

Developments in digital technology, communication and standards have opened the door for a "digital substation". The main function associated with digital substations, and also the basis of this project, is system protection. To make the switch to digital substations, the secondary equipment of substations must be converted from traditionally wired, copper, analog cables to digitally connected components, eg. by fiberglass. This provides clear benefits in terms of complexity, size, configuration time and costs. IEC61850 is the preferred international standard. This allows different functionalities from different suppliers to work together seamlessly.

Despite the clear benefits of digital substations, digital substations were installed to a limited extent for three main reasons: i) reliability is of the utmost importance, ii) staff need rare knowledge of energy systems and ICT, iii) existing systems still perform sufficiently. This results in a lack of user confidence in switching to digital substations, which in turn hinders investment in digital solutions.

The aim of the project is to question the status quo by making digital substations acceptable to the end user. The project focuses specifically on the need for tools and methods that are needed to realize the benefits of digital substations, such as high reliability and faster applicability. For this, an analysis of their reliability is performed. Methodologies and tools for faster testing and better error detection will result in increased reliability.