Hitachi Energy builds first digital substation in East Java

2022: Digital substation in East Java

On January 13, 2022, the company Hitachi Energy announced that it had launched a 150-kilovolt digital substation that helps the Indonesian power the company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN Persero) provide electricity and more effectively support economic development East Java, as well as contribute to a long-term sustainable development program.

The East Java and Bali Development Central Unit (UIP JBTB) substation connects the 200 hectare industrial area of ​ ​ Sidoarjo (KIS), on which large manufacturing companies are located, with the PLN network as part of Indonesia's desire to create a sustainable infrastructure and benefit from the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies.

The digital substation will help stimulate further economic growth and investment in East Java province, which accounts for almost 15 percent of national gross domestic product and is the second largest contributor after the capital Jakarta.

The digital substation also supports Indonesia's transition to a low-carbon future by organically integrating renewable energy sources and contributing to the decarbonization of the region's electricity grid. Built on an area of ​ ​ 1.5 hectares, it is a fairly large digital substation of this kind in East Java, Indonesia. The project was launched and completed in 2020.

"This project is another example of how digitalization plays a key role in shaping power grids, and reaffirms our position as the preferred partner for advancing a sustainable energy future in Indonesia. As a partner of the national energy company PT PLN (Persero), we will continue to support the development of the country's energy infrastructure and its digital transformation, " said Massimo Danieli, managing director of grid automation at Hitachi Energy.

"Thanks to Hitachi Energy with this digital substation, operators can get real-time data on network voltage parameters so that they can predict and make decisions faster. This is important for the sustainability and stability of the electricity grid, especially to support this strategic industrial zone in East Java. In addition, the digital substation also allows the integration of greener energy and the provision of energy services in a more rational and safe way, " said Jarot Hutabri, CEO of East Java and Bali Central Development Division.

The introduction of digital equipment and technology at Sidoarjo Substation PLN reduces operating and maintenance costs, as well as the risks associated electric with current, by using it to exchange operational data fiber optic cable instead of copper. Hitachi Energy's digital substation technology reduces space and hence facility area constructions , providing KIS with a dynamic, safer grid.

The substation on KIS is based on current communication protocols for control, protection and automation. Using the process bus makes it possible to provide digital data transfer between power equipment, relay protection, APCS system and regional control center. The substation level is controlled by Hitachi Energy's MicroSCADA power automation solution, thereby increasing the availability and fault tolerance of the power infrastructure.

MicroSCADA along with the current devices of telemechanics, RPA, PAS (analog signal converters), PDS (discrete signal converters), allows PLN to increase the efficiency of its operation. Centralized monitoring enables rapid fault detection and resolution, thereby reducing operational impact and minimizing disruption to any part of the network. This is especially important to ensure a stable supply of electricity to the industrial complex, as well as to improve reliability by segmenting network sections and distributing loads between the Banguil and New Porong regions.