Substation Design 22 | Automation & Control 28 | Underground Transmission 32

DECEMBER 2021 tdworld.com

COVER STORY:
Island Connections:
Horizontal Directional Drilling
in South Carolina, p. 14
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 IN THIS ISSUE Vol. 73 | No. 12

32
DEPARTMENTS
6 Global Viewpoint
14 Infrastructure Deal Supports
Utilities’ Journey Down
Current Path
14 Island Connections: Horizontal By TERESA HANSEN, VP of Content

Directional Drilling in South Carolina 8 Grid Talk

Clearing the Air: What is Next
UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION
By JIMMY TINDAL, Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc., JAY WILLIAMS and RACHEL MOSIER, in America?
Power Delivery Consultants Inc., DENNIS DOHERTY, Kleinfelder Inc., and ABHINAV HULI, Haley & By DAVID SHADLE, Senior Editor
Aldrich, Inc.
Cover: A compilation of images featured in the articles and iStock | Getty Images Plus. 10 Charging Ahead
Optimistic About 2022
By GENE WOLF, Technical Writer
FEATURES
22 Singapore Goes Underground 49 Top Tools of the Trade
SUBSTATION DESIGN
By RYAN WONG, Central Electric Power Ltd.
50 Products & Services
52 Solutions Center
28 The New Generation of Substation Automation Prepare for the EV Era
AUTOMATION AND CONTROL By MAHESH SUDHAKARAN, IBM
By ALDO CURTONI, CESI SpA, and MARCO CATALFAMO, Caggemini Engineering
54 Social Media Hub
32 Deepwater Design
UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION 55 Advertising Index
By By MICHAIL CHATZIPANOS, IOANNIS MARGARIS, KONSTANTINOS TSIREKIS
and SAVVAS KATEMLIADIS, Independent Power Transmission Operator SA, Greece 56 Straight Talk
Integrated Grid Planning is
38 Drones, IoT and Visualization Critical for Clean Energy
DATA ANALYTICS By BRIAN LUSHER, Duke Energy
By STUART KNIGHT, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission

Rodeo Roundup By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor

42 Return to the Rodeo
46 Exploring the Expo
48 Honoring the Top Tool of the Trade 48
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GLOBAL VIEWPOINT BY TERESA HANSEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT
Infrastructure Deal Supports Utilities’ Journey Down Current Path
A
s I write this month’s column, the
“Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal”
has just been passed by Congress
and will soon be signed into law by
President Joe Biden. The deal’s price
tag is about $1.2 trillion and is a ma-
jor piece of President Biden’s Build
Back Better plan. According to the
fact sheet released by the White House,
the legislation appropriates more than
$65 billion to upgrade the electric power infrastructure,
making it “the largest investment in clean energy transmission
and grid in American history.” The money will be used to build
thousands of miles of new transmission lines to carry more
clean electricity as additional renewable energy and other
clean energy technologies are developed and deployed across
the transmission system.
Annual spending on the electric transmission system by major U.S. utilities (2000–2019)
billion 2019 dollars
$45
$30
$15
$0
2000 2005 2010
Annual spending on the electric transmission system by major U.S. utilities (2015–2019)
billion 2019 dollars
$45
$30
$15
$0
2015 2016 2017 2018
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Financial Reports, as
accessed by Ventyx Velocity Suite
The legislation also provides another $50 billion to make
the nation’s infrastructures more resilient against the impacts
of climate change, cyberattacks, and extreme weather events.
This funding will go toward not only the electric infrastruc-
ture, but also water systems, roads, communication systems,
government buildings and more. Again, according to the
White House brief this will be the largest investment in the
resilience of physical and natural systems in American history.
6 T&D World | December 2021
In addition, the deal provides $7.5 billion to build out a
national network for EV charging stations. This investment
support’s the administration’s goal of creating a network of
one-half million EV chargers.
The complete Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal contains
much more than this, but these are the three pieces that will
likely have the biggest impact on electric utilities and grid own-
ers and operators. This investment is expected to roll out over
the next 10 years. By now, you likely have heard or read many
opinions on this piece of legislation. For that reason, I will say
only that I think the money can be put to good use and I’m
pleased that our lawmakers could come to an agreement, pass
this legislation.
I do want to point out, however, that long before this legisla-
tion was penned, U.S. electric utilities were already investing
billions of dollars in transmission systems to improve reliability
and resiliency, and to accommodate the increases in renew-
able energy being added to the system. Ac-
cording to a release from the Energy Infor-
mation Administration (EIA) issued in late
March of this year, annual spending on the
U.S. transmission system by major U.S. elec-
tric utilities increased from $9.1 billion (2019
new
investment dollars) in 2000 to $40 billion in 2019. This
$40 billion included about $23.5 billion in-
vestment in new transmission infrastructure,
operations and $16.6 billion for operations and mainte-
and
maintenance nance of existing transmission systems. The
EIA release cites FERC reports that indicate
2015 spending on transmission infrastructure
leveled off a bit recently, but still rose 3%
from 2018 to 2019. The two EIA graphics
provide more detail about how and where
other utilities are investing.
underground lines
towers
There’s no doubt that an infusion of
overhead lines new government money will help prepare the
investment
poles
grid for the energy transition. In addition,
station
equipment
the heightened public awareness created
other by this infrastructure deal could help utili-
station equipment operation
load dispatch ties get more support from state utility com-
and
power lines missioners, public officials, private sector
maintenance
transmission
investors and maybe even customers. The
2019
EIA’s findings on grid investment, how-
ever, reveal what most of us familiar with
the electric power industry already know:
Utilities will continue to make investments with or without ex-
tra government funding, where and when needed to provide
safe, reliable, affordable electricity as we transition to a cleaner
and more electrified society.
This month and every month T&D World magazine brings
you stories about the technologies and solutions the world’s
utilities are developing and implementing to keep pace with the
energy transition. I hope you enjoy this month’s stories.
GRID TALK BY DAVID SHADLE, SENIOR EDITOR
Clearing the Air: What is Next in America?
T
he future of the electric power
industry is tied more closely
than ever to public perception
regarding air pollution. What’s rarely
explained is that the pollution that
affects our air quality comes from
many sources, not just power plants
and cars. The United States has been
beating the proverbial stuffing out of
power generating facilities to reduce
emissions since the 1970’s clean air laws were passed. Progress has
been astounding for all major pollutants. Likewise, the country
became serious about addressing mobile-source emissions, which
has been more challenging in many ways. Notwithstanding, new
vehicles are about 99% cleaner compared to 1970 models ac-
cording to EPA. Clearly, there is much positive news regarding
the emissions trends from some of our biggest sources, but we
rarely hear about it. Also, little is reported on emissions reduc-
tion progress in the commercial and industrial sectors. Are they
doing their fair share?
Data compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Adminis-
tration (EIA) for 2020 indicate energy consumption by the
commercial and industrial sectors combined (47,920 trillion
BTU) exceeded that for the electric power (35,744 T BTU) and
transportation sectors (24,268 T BTU). The residential sector
consumed 20,853 T BTU. A growing portion of the energy
consumption in the residential and commercial sectors comes
from purchased electricity, which reduces local emission sourc-
es. However, the transportation and the industrial sectors have
maintained a high reliance on petroleum products.
National energy consumption data only provide partial in-
sight into air emission trends. There are myriad source catego-
ries and relevant pollutants in the commercial and industrial
sectors. Looking only at fuel combustion emissions using EPA’s
National Emissions Inventory, industrial sources reduced cri-
teria pollutants by an average of 40% between 2005 and 2020,
while electric utility emissions declined by 58%. Existing in-
dustrial, commercial, and institutional boilers may be lagging
utility power plants in terms of emissions reduction. However,
EPA has been tightening the standards for conventional and
hazardous air pollutants from major sources in these sectors in
recent years. In addition, all major source boilers are subject to
maintenance requirements to help ensure aging equipment is
operating as efficiently as possible.
Integrated technologies that matured in the manufactur-
ing sector will assist in the continuing optimization of commer-
cial, institutional and industry operations, including manag-
ing air emissions. Information and operations technology (IT/
OT) integration has improved productivity, reduced costs, and
modernized manufacturing facilities for increased respon-
siveness to changing requirements. IT/OT integration also is
facilitating the modernization of systems and operations in
the power and oil and gas sectors. Further, the digitalization
8 T&D World | December 2021
Pollution that affects our air quality comes from many sources, not just power
plants and cars. LIVINUS/Getty Images.
of lighting, heating, cooling, security and other systems has
vastly increased the opportunities for improved efficiency and
reduced pollution from smart buildings and now smart cities.
We are approaching a time when most energy management
systems in all settings, including residences will be connected
to the IoT or the IIoT and employ advanced analytics, AI and
even machine learning. The next stage will be a high degree of
reliance on edge computing, or the integration of computers,
storage, and applications close to where data is used, facilitat-
ing real-time decisions and seamless operations. This level of
integration and autonomy of cyber-physical systems has been
referred to as Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution.
Providing we avoid the Singularity (only kidding), edge infra-
structure will be advantageous to the power sector due to lower
latency, more manageable data analytics, expanded interoper-
ability and increased cybersecurity.
Is it possible that FERC Order 2222 will be a further cata-
lyst for these changes? FERC’s own media reports claim Order
2222 will facilitate the electric grid of the future by creating
a level playing field for distributed energy resources (DERs)
wishing to participate in the organized capacity, energy and
ancillary services markets run by regional grid operators. This
includes resources in front of and behind the distribution cus-
tomer meter. As we have learned, DERs may include electric
storage, intermittent and distributed generation, demand re-
sponse, energy efficiency, thermal storage, electric vehicles/
charging equipment and aggregations of these resources. One
open question is whether the level playing field FERC refer-
ences will be level in terms of environmental impact or emis-
sions. That answer may remain in the hands of state and local
regulators for now, but it is noteworthy that the Commission
held a conference on carbon pricing shortly following issuance
of Order 2222.
Bringing innovative technologies and cleaner resources on-
line was clearly a priority for FERC when it issued Order 2222.
At the same time, the Commission has stated its rule is technol-
ogy and fuel neutral. It believes its actions will make the grid
more nimble, flexible, and reliable and drive down costs for
consumers. Time will tell if utilities and a growing number of
new market participants can maintain our air quality progress
and deliver on the rest of the Order 2222 promises.
CHARGING AHEAD NEW TECHNOLOGIES & NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR UTILITIES
Optimistic About 2022
W
ell, 2021 is almost in our rear-
view mirrors and I’m opti-
mistic that 2022 will be much
better. If you remember, last year I
introduced you to the New Mexico
tradition of Zozobra in the Decem-
ber 2020 “Charging Ahead” edito-
rial (see www.tdworld.com/21149469).
I explained that in New Mexico we
write down all the year’s troubles and
worries on scraps of paper. They get stuffed into the Zozobra
effigy and burned. It’s more than symbolic; we do it because
it’s uplifting.
Granted, 2021 has been somewhat of an improvement
over 2020, we still need positive spirit lifting events. The delta
variant has thrown everyone a curve ball, and once again we
stuffed the 2021 Zozobra with our worries and troubles. This
year, however, the event took place with a live audience, which
was really encouraging. Well, there’s another uplifting New
Mexico tradition that came back as a live event this year.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Photo by Gene Wolf.
Balloons & Power Lines Don’t Mix
It’s the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which was
canceled last year, but it too is back. It is another fall tradition
designed to raise spirits. And like Zozobra, there is a strong
connection between the International Balloon Fiesta and our
industry through the Public Service Company of New Mexico
(PNM). PNM wants to make sure that everyone knows that
when power lines and balloons tangle, it isn’t good for anyone.
With 500-plus hot air balloons and pilots from around
the world, there is the potential for problems. Because of the
dangers, PNM conducted a safety demonstration for balloon
pilots before the start of the Fiesta. They also work with first
responders and provide public service messages to the me-
dia warning the public to stay away from balloons tangled in
power lines since the power line may still be energized.
10 T&D World | December 2021
BY GENE WOLF, TECHNICAL WRITER
In addition, PNM also strategically places line crews and
their equipment around the metropolitan area to quickly as-
sist with any mishaps that may occur. On a lighter side, the
breakfast burrito was invented at the Balloon Fiesta in the
early 1970s. As a former utility substation engineer, I can
attest that these culinary delights have become a basic ne-
cessity whenever an early morning substation site meeting is
scheduled in the southwest.
While I was watching the TV coverage of 2021 Fiesta, a
commentator starting talking with a pilot about radio con-
troled (RC) hot air balloons. That was something new. Turns
out an RC exhibition was scheduled for fiesta goers later that
day. I was familiar with RC airplanes but not hot air balloons.
RC balloon technology is growing. They’re about a one quar-
ter scale model of the full sized balloons. Digital technology
has moved into hot air ballooning, and it sounded like a lot
of fun.
Where’s Technology Going
The discussion moved on to predictions concerning the RC
balloons and some other new technologies for bal-
loons. The technical discussion started me thinking
about digital technology developments for the grid
in 2022. Now I’ve never been good at predictions, but
I’d be willing to bet we are going to see some amaz-
ing combinations in technologies that have been the
subject of past “Charging Ahead” articles.
A good example is the second-life applications
for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. With all the EVs
on the road, there are going to be a lot of second-
life EV batteries available. Repurposing them for
energy storage systems has been catching on. Cus-
tomers have been slowly combining them with their
roof-top solar systems for solar-plus-storage applica-
tions. It started out as a way to balance the peak solar
production with customer peak energy demand.
It wasn’t long until it morphed into what has been
called microgrids in a box. That’s caught the atten-
tion of aggregators who are seeking a way to take advantage of
FERC’s ancillary service changes. In effect, these behind-the-
meter (BTM) distributive energy resources (DERs) generate
electricity and cash. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see it’s only
a matter of time before narrow artificial intelligence is added
to the mix and aggregated BTM DERS will become virtual
power plants.
Second-life EV battery applications are only a small por-
tion of the technological building blocks available to the
power delivery system. When you throw in self-managing
technologies, assets with conditional awareness, smart dis-
tribution management platforms, it’s easy to see how this ex-
plosion of technology has everyone scratching their heads.
Figuring out what’s next is a challenge and staying on top of
it is demanding. I can’t wait to see what 2022 brings!
POWER TRENDS BY GENE WOLF, TECHNICAL WRITER
Midwest Coalition Of Utilities Expands Network of EV Charging Stations
Last year, 2020, Ameren announced
the formation of a coalition of Midwest
utilities to expand the network electric
vehicle (EV) charging stations across
their service territories. It was herald-
ed as a first-of-its-kind collaboration
among Midwest energy companies.
They committed in good faith to build-
ing a large, collaborative network of EV
charging stations. Now the momentum
continues, as Alliant Energy signs the
Memorandum of Cooperation, which Midwest EV Map. Courtesy of Ameren.
will further expand the charging station network.
“Alliant Energy strives to be a leader in electrification ini-
tiatives and embraces innovative opportunities, like this one,”
said Terry Kouba, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy
company. “Collaborations such as these enhance our pur-
pose-driven strategy to serve customers and build stronger
communities. Between our electric vehicle goal to have 100%
of our active light-duty fleet vehicles electric by 2030 and now
with our participation in the Midwest EV Charging Corridor
Coalition, it’s just one more way we are driving toward a more
sustainable future that benefits everyone.”
David de Leon, president of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin
energy company stated, “We understand the critical need for
more charging stations available at convenient locations. By
signing on to this collaboration, we can help increase the EV in-
frastructure necessary to assure customers that they will be able
500 MW HVDC Link Provides Power Between Ireland And United Kingdom
Greenlink Interconnector will increase power supply secu-
rity and support the integration of renewable energy with a
5oo megawatt HVDC (high-voltage direct current) power link
between Ireland and Britain’s power grids. Greenlink signed
a contract with the consortium of Siemens Energy and Sumi-
tomo to supply HVDC cable and converter technology for the
118 mile (190 km) interconnection.
The power can flow in either direction, depending on sup-
ply and demand in each country. It also allows both countries
to benefit from increased grid stability, security of power sup-
ply and cost-effective growth and integration of low carbon
energy. Work will begin at the start of 2022.
James O’Reilly, CEO of Greenlink, commented: “We are
delighted to have reached another significant milestone in
the delivery of the Greenlink project with the signing of the
contract with Siemens Energy and Sumitomo Electric. Green-
link is one of Europe’s most important energy infrastructure
projects, contributing to energy security, regional investment,
jobs, and the cost-effective integration of low carbon energy.
We have chosen a consortium with exceptional experience,
skill, and standing in the energy and engineering sector for
this major undertaking. We will be looking to maximize local
supply chain benefits during the three-year construction pe-
riod, and we look forward to working with Siemens Energy and
Sumitomo Electric towards successful commissioning in 2024.”
to charge up no matter where they are
driving. In the long-run our customers
and the communities we serve all ben-
efit from a cleaner energy future.”
The coalition reported that as of
September 2021, there are two mil-
lion EVs on U.S. roads. This number
is expected to increase to 18.7 million
by 2030. To meet the demand, an es-
timated 9.6 million public EV charg-
ing stations will be needed, but only
about 100,000 stations are in service
today. With an expanded charging network, EV drivers will
be able to travel from Wisconsin to Texas, and many routes in
between, with plenty of locations to recharge along the way.
“A key to increasing adoption of electric vehicles is to give
motorists confidence that convenient charging stations will
be available for travel throughout the Midwest,” said Richard
Mark, chairman and president of Ameren Illinois. “Adding
Alliant Energy to our coalition demonstrates that energy com-
panies are united in our efforts to help prepare our customers
for the transition to a cleaner and greener future.”
In addition to Alliant Energy, the coalition includes
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, as well as Consumers
Energy, DTE Energy, Duke-Indiana, Energy, Liberty Utili-
ties, MidAmerican Energy, Midwest Energy, and Oklahoma
Gas and Electric. Together, these utilities serve customers
across 11 states.
HVDC technology offers the most efficient means of trans-
mitting large amounts of power over long distances. Siemens
Energy will be responsible for the overall system design and
the construction of two converter stations located close to
the Great Island transmission substation in County Wexford
(Ireland) and the Pembroke transmission substation in Pem-
brokeshire (Wales).
Both converter stations will use Siemens Energy’s market
leading HVDC PLUS technology with modular multi-level ar-
rangement (VSC-MMC) to convert Alternating Current to Di-
rect Current and vice versa. Linked via an HVDC XLPE (cross-
linked polyethylene) cable system by Sumitomo, the stations
will enable the low-loss transport of energy with a voltage of
320 kV. Siemens Energy’s scope of supply also includes a Ser-
vice and Maintenance Agreement with an initial duration of
seven years.
Beatrix Natter, executive vice president Transmission at
Siemens Energy, said: “Interconnectors like Greenlink play a
critical role in strengthening the share of renewable sources
in the European energy mix and bolstering energy securi-
ty. We at Siemens Energy are very pleased that Greenlink
chose our state-of-the-art HVDC technology, adding a new
lighthouse project to our proven track record of 10 HVDC
projects in implementation and more than 59 successfully
completed projects worldwide.”
December 2021 | T&D World 11
CHARGING AHEAD BY GENE WOLF, TECHNICAL WRITER
Managing Vulnerabilities
Since threats can’t be avoided, how about minimizing them?
Substation yard. Courtesy of Hitachi Energy.
W
ell, 2021 is almost a wrap. With the end of the
year, there are a lot of “year in review” features hit-
ting the news. One of the major focuses has been
global climate change and the extreme events
that happened. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration) reported that for the first nine months (lat-
est available data) of 2021, 18 weather-related disasters hit
the U.S. Other parts of the world have also had their share of
these climate change catastrophes, but let’s look at two partic-
ular storms that aptly illustrate the impact these events have.
Winter Storm Uri, and Hurricane Ida affected large geo-
graphical areas and large portions of the power delivery sys-
tem in unexpected ways unique to climate change. The wrath
of Uri extended from Canada, across the U.S., and into North-
ern Mexico. Uri left almost 10 million people without electric-
ity for an extended period. It was especially hard on ERCOT’s
(Electric Reliability Council of Texas) power grid. The inter-
connection came within a few minutes of total collapse.
Hurricane Ida did a lot of damage in the Caribbean, and
then the warm waters of the Gulf increased its strength off the
Louisiana coast. When it hit the U.S, it inflicted catastroph-
ic damage to the power system. Once on land, it became a
strong tropical storm causing overwhelming flooding with
high winds from the deep south to New England Power out-
ages all along its route were common. It knocked out all eight
transmission lines powering New Orleans and took many days
to restore power.
Why’s It Never Simple?
According to NOAA, climate change is making these storms
more severe, costly, and numerous each year. All of which
points out why the subject of grid hardening has also been
popping up throughout 2021. Grid hardening is a difficult
subject to address. There are so many threats facing the power
grid and so many solutions being offered. Literally there is no
one solution that fits all conditions. It’s reminiscent of that old
saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
12 T&D World | December 2021
The best hardening technology depends on which type of
threat is being discussed and what the speaker feels is needed.
Also, threats to the power delivery infrastructure come in
many forms. One may be geophysical events, electromagnetic
pulses is another, and cyber-attacks yet another. The list goes
on, but you get the idea.
Typically when grid hardening is discussed, many assume
it means having a grid that is event-proof (i.e., able to with-
stand any threat), but that isn’t a realistic approach. A more
reasonable approach is to address vulnerability management
on the grid. A system that can quickly adapt to changing con-
ditions while minimizing infrastructure damage may be more
reliable.
That is exactly what utilities, grid operators, and other
power delivery stakeholders had in mind when they began
the smart grid modernization plan for the grid. These digital
technologies produced intelligent systems within the grid that
can respond rapidly to changes. They provide a structure for
hardening based on being able to recover quickly from harsh
conditions rather than trying to be event-proof.
IT/OT & Modernization
As the modernization process advanced, a connectiveness
between Information technology (IT) and operational tech-
nology (OT) took place. Previously these two systems have
been developing on two separate tracks, but now they are
working together. It’s called the IT/OT convergence and it’s
a game changer. The convergence has led to some powerful
applications when it comes to making a flexible power grid.
Taking OT data and using IT methodologies allowed that
physical data to be quickly converted into actionable infor-
mation, and advanced asset management platforms, distrib-
uted energy management systems, and distribution network
applications became possible. Applying these applications
has permitted the asset rich substation to reap some amaz-
ing benefits. Interconnectivity results in faster data exchange
between equipment, which makes it possible for substation
 CHARGING AHEAD

automation (SA) protection and control systems, and provides said, “Cybersecurity is not a single solution for one problem.
operational advantages. It requires a holistic (i.e., one system) methodology involving
According to a report from Research And Markets, a re- multiple approaches to protect the substation’s infrastructure.
search company, the global SA market size is estimated to be Today’s automation systems interconnect with multiple net-
about US$39.9 billion in 2021 and is being projected to reach works, systems, and settings.”
approximately US$ 54.2 billion by 2026. The report said, “The Graf continued, “The key question here is how do you or-
market has a promising growth potential due to several fac- chestrate a cybersecurity system to detect threats and protect
tors, including the surge requirement to retrofit conventional all of the substation’s equipment and networks. Those ele-
substations, increasing investments in smart cities and smart ments are supplied by several manufacturers and report over
grid infrastructure development projects.” various communications networks, which is where interoper-
Research And Markets identified the following suppliers as ability standards are so important to this approach. Legacy
key players in this market; Cisco, Eaton Corp, General Elec- components are too valuable to replace unless they are near-
tric, Hitachi Energy, Schneider Electric, Siemens Energy, and ing the end of their useful life.”
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories to name a few. Let’s look Graf went on saying, “If you want to properly harden the
a little deeper at these substation applications to get a better substation it’s a process of detection and protection using
understanding of the topic. physical security, OT behavior, and cybersecurity integrated
into one complete scheme. It’s necessary because any security
Critical Infrastructure system needs to understand the full context of the operation
Eaton defines a SA system as a collection of hardware and soft- to be effective. The Hitachi Energy method presents the op-
ware components used to monitor and control an electrical erator, who isn’t a cybersecurity expert, with a monitor screen
system, both locally and remotely. showing the full picture of the situ-
They point out that SA systems also SA systems monitor the activity of the ation as it relates to the substation
automate repetitive, tedious, and in the network. It gives the opera-
error-prone activities to increase
substation’s assets in real-time with tor all of the information needed
the overall efficiency and produc- intelligent electronic devices and their to respond to what is taking place
tivity of the system. This has been associated management platforms. on the network and protect what is
made possible by their increased most critical to the system.”
interconnection with equipment and other substations. Technological transitions like these have grown in popu-
These substations produce real-time data, which permits larity because they give users an advantage. Fast data analysis
higher self-awareness along with great levels of control. IT/ supplies actionable information that allows higher reliability
OT advancements have led to the ability of networking substa- and greater levels of control. This monitoring and analysis
tions that work together with little or no human interaction. also offers improved operations and overall efficiency by
Each generation improves the SA’s protection and control sys- identifying vulnerabilities in critical systems and closing
tems abilities, but IT/OT also increases the vulnerabilities of gaps before they can be used by hackers.
the grid. It does this by providing more access points for hack-
ers to infiltrate the network, but tools like SA can counteract Proactive Response
those cyber-attacks. It’s referred to as a proactive response, which is the resilience
SA systems monitor the activity of the substation’s assets in needed to meet security risks that can compromise system per-
real-time with intelligent electronic devices and their associat- formance. Rather than being a vulnerability, the SA system’s
ed management platforms. It takes the entire facility to a new abilities can strengthen the system to cybersecurity threats.
dimension of digital protection. Siemens Energy recently an- It not only represents a powerful tool in the utility’s grid
nounced a new application for monitoring and responding to reinforcing toolbox, it’s a weapon for improved cybersecurity.
cyber threats against IT/OT networks. It uses their Managed By combining SA with advanced technologies like big-
Detection and Response system, which is powered by Eos.ii’s data analytics and cloud-based computing, real-time action-
artificial intelligence based software. able data is generated quickly. It’s decision making on ste-
Siemens Energy explains, “The system provides visibil- roids, but that’s only part of it. Taking that to another level
ity and context across industrial operating environments.” requires adding artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin
Keeping the electrical grid safe is getting more challenging technology, which adds situational awareness for predictive
as more intelligent devices are integrated into intelligent and preventative capabilities.
networks. This connectiveness is revamping ideas and ap- SA combined with an AI enhanced virtual twin boosts cy-
proaches to cybersecurity. bersecurity by having a digital model that understands when
a cyber intruder is trying to cause problems and shuts them
End to End Security down quickly. This approach is more efficient for address-
Talking with Pierre-Alain Graf, senior vice president, global ing other threats to the power grid too. It is more effective to
business, Hitachi Energy, revealed some interesting aspects minimize the hazards with fast responding applications than
of Hitachi Energy’s approach to cybersecurity for SA. Graf trying to make an impervious grid. And it’s achievable!
December 2021 | T&D World 13
 Island
Connections:
Horizontal Directional
Drilling in South Carolina
Co-op uses an extruded-dielectric cable
in the 115-kV underground transmission
project to connect Johns Island
and Wadmalaw Island.
By JIMMY TINDAL, Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc., JAY WILLIAMS and RACHEL MOSIER, Power
Delivery Consultants Inc., DENNIS DOHERTY, Kleinfelder Inc., and ABHINAV HULI, Haley & Aldrich, Inc.

A
new 115-kV transmission line was needed to increase
reliability of service to Johns Island and Wadmalaw
Island, both located near Charleston, South Carolina,
U.S. Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc. (CEPCI)
owns the statewide electric system that provides electric ser-
vice to all 20 of South Carolina’s electric co-ops, including
Berkeley Electric Cooperative Inc. (BEC), which provides
retail electric service to the residents of both islands. The
new transmission line had to cross Bohicket Creek, a waterway
approximately 3400 ft (1036 m) wide, including extensive
marshlands. An overhead crossing was not feasible, requiring
CEPCI to evaluate underground and underwater options.
Although almost all the transmission-voltage cable crossings
to islands along the South Carolina coast use high-pressure gas-
filled (HPGF) pipe-type cables, CEPCI’s evaluation concluded
an extruded-dielectric cable would be preferable because of the
reduced chance of environmental damage and lower mainte-
nance requirements — an important consideration because of
the remote location of the line. The crossing begins on a street
within a Habitat for Humanity community on Johns Island and
ends in a gated residential community on Wadmalaw Island.
Installation on the water bottom was ruled out because
of the environmental sensitivity of the area, including more
than 1500 ft (457 m) of protected seagrasses in marsh areas.
Therefore, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was selected
for the project.
Project Scope
This HDD crossing project was CEPCI’s first underground
transmission cable project. The utility retained Power Delivery

14 T&D World | December 2021

CEPCI and Haley & Aldrich coordinated with relevant agencies, such as
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Carolina Department
of Natural Resources, to protect coastal seagrass areas during project
construction phases. Photo by 69915530, Dreamstime.

December 2021 | T&D World 15

 UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION

Consultants Inc. (PDC), a cable specialist firm, for

the project. PDC developed the general scope:
• Obtain available information on the area of
the crossing and potential connection
locations to overhead lines.
• Evaluate use of pipe-type vs.
extruded-dielectric cable.
• Retain a design firm to manage the extensive
environmental and civil work.
• Have that firm perform detailed civil
analysis, including multiple geotechnical
bores, to determine the best entry and exit
locations and the best drill path.
• Prepare a 90% design for the civil and
electrical work with an emphasis on
environmental concerns.
• Prepare a description of project work and
obtain qualifications and expressions of
interest from civil and electrical contractors.
• Prepare technical and procurement
specifications, issue to qualified firms and
evaluate bids, resolve questions, and send
request for technical and economic approval
Project area.
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA’s) Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
• Award contract and kick off construction.

Environmental Concerns
Several areas of environmental and social sensi-
tivity for the potential crossing were addressed in
the permitting and design stage as well as during
construction operation:
• Coastal seagrasses are protected in South
Carolina. Initial work included mapping the
seagrass areas along potential alignments
and following the state’s best management
practices for working in coastal seagrass
The transmission line had to cross Bohicket Creek and the surrounding wetlands. Central
Electric Power Cooperative Inc. decided an overhead crossing would have too much impact areas, including extensive stormwater
on the environment, so an underwater and underground crossing was envisioned. Photo by control programs.
Thierrydehove, Dreamstime.
• The state is protective of its Grand Oak
trees — southern live oak trees with trunk
diameters greater than 24 inches (610 mm).
• An Angel Oak tree near construction was
estimated to be 400 years to 500 years
old. Grand Oak trees were protected on
both sides of the crossing, requiring minor
changes to the project alignment and
protective barriers outside the tree drip lines.
• Stormwater runoff was controlled carefully
and monitored during construction
operations.
• Construction noise was minimized on both
sides of the crossing, and care was taken to
avoid tracking mud from the construction
South Carolina is protective of the trees in this area, such as the picturesque “Angel Oak” areas onto the roadways.
pictured here. Oak trees were protected on both sides of the crossing, requiring minor changes
to the project alignment and protective barriers outside the tree drip lines. Photo by Dccastelhano, Multiple permitting authorities were in-
Dreamstime volved. CEPCI and Haley & Aldrich Inc. (H&A),
16 T&D World | December 2021
 UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION

A specialized reel trailer. CEPCI chose extruded-dielectric, XLPE-insulated cables for this project. Photo by Power Delivery Consultants, Inc.

the environmental and civil consultant on the project, coordi- • South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
nated to address the permitting requirements and applications Control’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource
for numerous agencies: Management
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • State Historic Preservation Officers and Tribal Historic
• U.S. Coast Guard Preservation Officers
• Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission • Charleston County

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December 2021 | T&D World 17

 UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION

HDPE ducts were selected for both

the power and communication cables.
The four 8-inch (203-mm) diameter
HDPE cable ducts (including one
spare) had an uncased borehole.
There were two 3-inch (76-mm) com-
munication ducts. Duct bundles were
made up using butt-fusion welds along
a recently upgraded 115-kV overhead
right-of-way on Wadmalaw Island.
Extensive clearing and crane mat-
ting was required to accommodate
multiple trips with heavy equipment
over areas with unstable ground.
After pressure testing, the ducts were
bundled together and connected to a
pulling head, to be pulled by the drill
rig. Two 1700-ft strings were assembled,
and the pullback stopped for several
hours to allow joining the strings.

The underground portion of the project required a 32-inch reamer. Photo by Power Delivery Consultants, Inc.
Cable System Design
Close cooperation among CEPCI, its consultants and the con- Historically, HPGF pipe-type cables have been chosen for
struction contractors, Mears Group Inc. and New River Electrical crossings such as this because they can be installed splice-
Corp., ensured permitting and environmental control proceeded free for lengths greater than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and a bore
smoothly, with minimal delays in approving and implementing diameter of only 12 inches (305 mm) or so is required for
the project. the 8-inch steel cable pipe that contains the three phases.
The pipe is rugged and pipe-type cable has an excellent and
HDD and Duct Design long history with HDD crossings as well as land installations.
H&A’s analysis of soil borings along the alignment showed a However, potential pipe corrosion could allow leaks of the
depth of about 54 ft (16.5 m) below the water bottom would be 200-psig nitrogen pressure necessary to maintain electrical
in a geological formation known as Cooper Marl, and it had integrity of the paper insulation, which was a concern because
ideal civil and thermal properties for the planned 24-inch di- cable failure would require replacing all three phases.
ameter bore. PDC’s cable rating calculations verified the desired
800-A rating could be achieved with cables at that depth. H&A
determined the preferred bore entry and exit locations to avoid
the marsh areas, and it performed calculations for expected
drilling conditions and installation of the cable ducts. These
calculations were confirmed by the HDD contractor as part of
the 100% design of the project.
Details of the drill were as follows:
• 323,000-lb (146,510-kg) thrust and pullback drill rig was
placed on Johns Island.
• Gyroscope steering system provided guidance of the
pilot hole to improve the navigation ability of the HDD
contractor.
• 1700-ft (518-m) pipe laydown area was staged in the
existing overhead line right-of-way on Wadmalaw Island.
After difficulties arose in the initial stage of the pullback
operation, the contractor elected to increase the bore diameter
to 32 inches (813 mm).
Drilling went well, although unusual resistance was encoun-
tered pulling back the duct bundle. The bundle was removed
and the bore size increased. With those changes in place, pull-
back was uneventful aside from a minor inadvertent return
area near the drill entry point, which was quickly plugged Cable installation went smoothly, due in part to liberal application of lubricant.
and cleaned. Photo by Power Delivery Consultants, Inc.

18 T&D World | December 2021

 UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION

HPGF cables require a cabinet for monitoring nitrogen pressure

and communications for sending alarms to the utility as well as
an alternating-current (AC) power supply for a cathodic pro-
tection system. This was not feasible for the remote location of
the circuit.
Extruded-dielectric cables have a shorter operating history and
require a much larger bore to accept the ducts that contain the
individual cable phases. The bore is more expensive and time
consuming, and it can add to the complexity of the HDD opera-
tion. However, there are no reliability and environmental concerns
about corrosion and leaks. Additionally, individual phases can
be replaced if there is a failure, and it is straightforward to add
a spare duct or even a spare cable.
The HPGF option would require at least one splice — a tri-
furcating joint to separate the three phases in the 8-inch (20.32
cm) steel pipe into individual phases in stainless steel riser pipes
to reach the terminations. In contrast, for extruded-dielec-
tric cables, 3400 ft (1.04 km) or even longer can be installed
termination-to-termination without the need for splices. No
auxiliary equipment, ac sources or communications channels
would be required. There are many more cable suppliers and
installers for extruded-dielectric cables than pipe-type cables.
After evaluating the two options, CEPCI chose extruded-
dielectric, cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cables.
The cable design is conventional, as in many projects. The
principal design decision was the cable sheath material. The The area from the end of the HDD ducts to the base of the termination pole was
directly buried, and an S-bend was placed in the excavation to allow termination
ducts would be filled with water, and the cables must operate replacement if needed, without having to install a splice.Photo by Power Delivery
for many decades under a hydrostatic head of more than 60 Consultants, Inc.

December 2021 | T&D World 19

 UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION
Line testing of an overhead portion of the project. Inset: The installation of the termination. Photo by Power
Delivery Consultants, Inc.
ft (18 m). Although laminate shields have a good operating
history for land installations, CEPCI decided to specify the
the sheath with proven reliability, lead, as commonly used for
submarine cable applications.
The added weight of the lead sheath was a major concern
in cable pulling, but calculations showed it was acceptable for
the 3400-ft length. Placing a temperature-monitoring fiber-
optic cable under the lead sheath was considered, but CEPCI
determined a separate multifiber cable in the duct was prefer-
able to permit multiple single-mode communications fibers
as well as a few multimode fibers for distributed temperature
sensing. This makes it possible to replace the fiber-optic cable
in the future.
CEPCI considered installing and terminating a fourth cable
for quick connection if one of the primary cables failed, as has
been done on other river-crossing cable circuits. However, since
alternate paths existed to feed Wadmalaw and Johns Islands for
the time it would take to obtain new cable, the utility opted to
install a fourth duct that could be used for replacement cable
if a failure occurred.
The cable and terminations were supplied by LS Cable. The
cable was delivered to the port of Charleston on three individual
reels, trucked to the local co-op’s storage yard and brought to
the installation site on New River Electrical’s special reel trailers
when needed for installation. Cable installation went smoothly,
due in part to the liberal application of lubricant.
The area from the end of the HDD ducts to the base of the
termination pole was directly buried, and an S-bend was placed
in the excavation to allow termination replacement if needed,
without having to install a splice. The entire area was covered
with a weak-mix concrete for mechanical protection.
CEPCI had its overhead-line tower supplier design and supply
the transition monopoles at each end of the line. The cables were
20 T&D World | December 2021
securely clamped to the pole prior to place-
ment of a steel shroud, and terminations
were made at final pole-arm height using
manlifts. The 138-kV class terminations were
chosen because of the proximity to saltwater.
The commissioning tests consisted of
jacket integrity tests to verify there was no
cable damage during installation, partial
discharge measurements at 1.7 times operat-
ing voltage to verify there were no discharges
that could lead to eventual electrical failure
and a 24-hr ac soak test at line voltage, with
one end open. All tests were passed success-
fully, and the transmission line was placed
into service in June 2018 on Johns Island
and Wadmalaw Island.
JIMMY TINDAL (jtindal@cepci.org)is director of
transmission design and construction at Central Electric
Power Cooperative Inc. With over 30 years of experience
in transmission design and construction, this was the
first HDD XLPE cable installation project for Tindal and
the utility.
JAY WILLIAMS (j.williams@pdc-cables.com) is the founder and executive engineer
at Power Delivery Consultants Inc. He has specialized in transmission cable systems
since joining Consolidated Edison Inc. in 1965. Williams has been a project engineer
for more than a dozen trenchless installations for both pipe-type and extruded-
dielectric cables as well as a great many research projects and other applications
of transmission cables for conventional and novel installations.
RACHEL MOSIER (r.mosier@pdc-cables.com) is the principal engineer at Power
Delivery Consultants Inc. With over 25 years in the utility industry, she has extensive
experience with extruded-dielectric transmission cable systems through 500 kV.
She is active with national and international technical committees.
DENNIS DOHERTY (DDoherty@kleinfelder.com) is a senior principal professional with
Kleinfelder Inc. He served as the project engineer for Haley and Aldrich Inc. on the
CEPCI HDD project. For more than 20 years, Doherty has specialized in installing
high-voltage cables underground using various trenchless technology methods,
including horizontal directional drilling. In collaboration with Power Delivery Consultants
Inc., he also coauthored the Electric Power Research Institute’s Quality Guidelines for
Grouting Procedures for Large Casings Used for Transmission Cable Systems.
ABHINAV HULI (AHuli@haleyaldrich.com) is trenchless practice leader at Haley &
Aldrich, Inc. He specializes in the technical design of new utility conduit installation
using trenchless technological applications and has over a decade of industry experi-
ence working on trenchless project from conception to construction. He has worked
on numerous large scale microtunnel and Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) projects
along the east coast with most of the large HDD projects being 6,000+ ft drills.
Company Listings
H&A | www.hayleyaldrich.com
LS Cable & System | www.lscusa.com
Mears Group | http://www.mears.net
New River Electrical | www.newriverelectrical.com
PDC | www.pdc-cables.com
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 SUBSTATION DESIGN
Labrador underground substation site.
Singapore Goes Underground
With space a major constraint, SP Group constructs first large-scale underground substation
in Southeast Asia.
By RYAN WONG, SP Power Grid Ltd.
W
ith an ever-increasing demand for electrical energy
and to optimize the space in Singapore to accom-
modate urban growth and development, SP Group
was faced with the need to reinforce the existing
transmission system of its utility company, SP Power Grid Ltd.
Singapore is a 30-mile (48-km) long island with a population
approaching six million — all living on 730 sq km (282 sq miles).
With the country’s population density at 8200 per sq km (3170
per sq mile), space is a major issue.Therefore, SP Group decided
the best solution was to build underground. It is constructing
a large-capacity, 230-kV underground substation, the first of
its kind in Southeast Asia, to optimize the space aboveground.
When complete, the new substation will replace an existing
230-kV substation at Labrador that is due for renewal. SP Group
is collaborating with the Urban Redevelopment Authority to
pilot this underground substation project.
Space and Stability
With zero room for doubt, SP Group had to see exactly what was
beneath the surface, which proved to be the first challenge of
many for the pilot project. The utility company had two priorities
when kicking off the project:
22 T&D World | December 2021
1. The first priority was to contend with existing underground
utility networks, water resources and sewage systems, and — go-
ing deeper — the underground mass rapid transit tunnels (the
train system). In addition, consideration had to be given to the
buildings and infrastructure on the surface.
2. The second priority was to ensure stability. Some 50 m
(164 ft) away from the construction site were a pair of train
tunnels, an elevated stretch of highway, a heritage park and
— perhaps the most challenging of all — the ocean 350 m
away from the site. Any large-scale excavation brings problems
when the ground, retaining wall and neighboring buildings
start to settle. Major ground settlement can create challenges
for those living and working in the area, as they may observe
damage and cracks within their premises and attribute them
to the underground project.
On one level, a construction site is an engineering chal-
lenge to be solved, yet on another level it also is a real-world
concern for individuals living and working nearby. For this
project, the selected construction site is adjacent to existing
infrastructures and businesses, and development in the wider
surrounding area includes new public housing and commercial
and residential developments, so any shift in the ground could
 SUBSTATION DESIGN

be potentially catastrophic. Balancing

both priorities — space and stabil-
ity — led to an innovative piece of
engineering design.

Underground Design
A traditional rectangular excavation
offers the smallest footprint, but that
would have come at the expense of sta-
bility. A circular excavation offers the
greatest stability, but that would have
come at the expense of wasted space
around the perimeter.
SP Group’s solution was to con-
struct the underground substation Cross-section shows four levels of underground substation, with five-story SP Group Operational Support
Centre on top.
with an unusual figure-eight, or pea-
nut, shape of two slightly overlapping
circular diaphragm walls, with a wall
in the middle to prevent them from
being pushed together. This design
was considered the best to withstand
the significant ground lateral forces
around the site.

Site Investigation
The first stage was to establish exactly
what was beneath the surface of the
selected site. The civil engineering
design specified an overall construc-
tion depth of 24 m (79 ft). To avoid
any unforeseen surprises, the initial
investigative drilling went down to a
depth of between 35 m to 50 m (115
ft to 164 ft). From the information
retrieved, a 3-D model of geology of
the site was created to interpret the
subterranean conditions.
Using the widely adopted Plaxis
3-D and ETABS finite element mod-
eling, SP Group conducted a series
Cross-sectional shows 34-story commercial tower.
of simulations to assess the stresses
and forces that would affect the excavation and subsequent of backfill material, beach sand, marine clay, estuarine, clayey
structure holding the underground substation. In-situ testing mudstone and sandstone. Evidence of brittle faults had been
considered the ground materials, namely their strength and recorded nearby, and early information from the excavation
permeability, to determine whether they could support this suggested there was a major fault zone in the underlying rock.
kind of structure. Soil and rock samples were sent for labora- Although there was no evidence of this during the excavation
tory testing to determine a more accurate assessment of the and subsequent construction, the possibility of the fault line
ground conditions. necessitated extra caution.
SP Group’s in-depth site investigation considered the com- While excavating, SP Group engaged an experienced geolo-
bination of soil, rock, water sources and water pressure. The gist to analyze any potential risks. Based on the geologist’s re-
results were used in the computer modeling, and then various port recommendations, the diaphragm walls were built deeper
simulated construction sequences were undertaken to establish into the ground where the fault line could cause weakness,
which design offered the greatest stability while simultaneously specifically to prevent any water ingress under the wall. Cement
facilitating construction. grout was added to the diaphragm wall joints and toe to make
Site drilling beyond the 24-m construction depth revealed it as watertight as possible. Also, the site’s proximity to the
solid rock, but geological features around the construction site ocean, a distance of 350 m (1150 ft), added an extra layer of
were far from solid. On-site ground conditions include layers risk and complexity.
December 2021 | T&D World 23
 SUBSTATION DESIGN

Daytime view of concrete casting process at basement 4. (Concrete pumps and trucks can be seen at ground level.)

contractor, Hyundai Engineering

& Construction Co. Ltd.

Twin-Cofferdam
Construction
Under normal circumstances, such
deep excavation requires temporary
strutting, which is both expensive
and time consuming to install. To
address this requirement, SP Group
adopted a twin-cofferdam structure
and diaphragm wall system. Trench
cutters created an excavation up
to 37 m (121 ft) deep, which was
filled with viscous bentonite slurry
to support the ground. Rebar cages,
designed for not only groundwater
and earth pressure, but also above-
building loads, were lowered into
the trench and filled with concrete,
panel by panel. The perimeter used
over 80 6-m (20-ft) wide diaphragm
wall panels for robustness.
During construction, soft black
marine clay was encountered,
which exerted significant lateral
forces. The stress increased with
Nighttime view of concrete casting process at basement 4. (Concrete pumps and trucks can be seen at ground level.)
the depth of the construction.
Therefore, the civil engineering works for this project re- When complete, the cofferdam will distribute the lateral force
quired specialized engineering planning and capabilities, pro- around each circular wall of the underground substation, but
vided by several parties. SP Group awarded the main construc- the stress ultimately will congregate at the point where the
tion contract for the underground substation to a South Korean two circular walls meet (that is, at the centre of the peanut).
24 T&D World | December 2021
 SUBSTATION DESIGN

Therefore, SP Group specified the construction of a central they were able to reduce the overall size of the substation.
cross-wall to offset the pressure on these meeting points. The benefits of building a subterranean substation include
Ultimately, the underground substation will have four base- improved asset and network security. In addition to optimizing
ment floor structures contributing to the stability of the final land resources for other purposes, the underground substation
construction when it reaches its final permanent state. has a lower risk of being exposed and damaged. In terms of
convenience, the substation has been designed for easy access
Subterranean Structure to update and renew equipment as well as with cooling systems
Building the subterranean structure some 150 m (492 ft) long to prevent the buildup of excessive heat.
and 100 m (328 ft) wide involved two separate two-day concrete
pours to create a 3 m to 4 m (9.8 ft to 13.1 ft) raft slab structure as Grand Design
a base, and an innovative twin-cofferdam structure. The raft-slab In addition to the simple challenge of establishing an under-
structure took 37,000 cu m (48,394 cu yd) of concrete, poured ground substation, it must merge seamlessly with the needs
continuously in two sessions, each taking
two days. SP Group overcame this logistical
challenge in collaboration with Pan-United
Corp. Ltd.
Trucks entered the site every 60 seconds,
pouring and then returning quickly to the
concrete production plant, as one problem
was to ensure the trucks did not back up.
The solution was to convert all the check-
ing of the incoming and exiting trucks to
contactless mode, so the traffic could flow
as smoothly as the concrete. With sustain-
ability always a concern, the concrete mix
was formulated to include ground-granulat-
ed blast slag, which would have otherwise
contributed to land pollution.
An added issue was the concrete pouring
took place just after Singapore’s COVID-19
lockdown, so the site required extra health
and safety measures.
Eventually, after what was recorded by
Pan-United as the largest continuous con-
crete mass pour in Singapore, the raft-slab
structure provided a firm foundation as the
first layer of stability.

Expertise and Experience

SP Group has significant experience in un-
derground works. As part of a long-term
plan to ensure an efficient and reliable
electricity supply for Singapore, it has
constructed a 40-km (25-mile) network
of transmission cable tunnels 60 m (197
ft) below ground. These tunnels provide
easy access to maintain and update the
transmission infrastructure with minimal
disruption to life on the surface.
However, for a major innovative proj-
ect such as this, the utility company also
tapped into regional expertise by collabo-
rating with the Tokyo Electric Power Co.
(TEPCO), which has significant experi-
ence in building and operating under-
ground substations. Working jointly on
the design of the underground substation,
December 2021 | T&D World 25
 SUBSTATION DESIGN

of the surrounding area as part of a sustainable and resilient
infrastructure. Looking both aboveground and belowground,
SP Group will site its operational headquarters above the un-
derground substation and integrate it with a high-rise grade-A
commercial office development. By adopting a holistic approach,
the construction of this substation underground frees up space
above for a 34-story development.
The entire development, including the underground substa-
tion, is due for completion in 2024, contributing to the planned
change in use of the area. SP Group has collaborated with the
Urban Redevelopment Authority on this project, as part of a
2019 master plan for the nation. Specifically, the underground
substation sits at the centre of the Greater Southern Waterfront
and will supply electricity demand to up to eight towns, includ-
ing Alexandra, Clementi, Keppel and Pasir Panjang, and the
Science Park district.
The underground substation is in line with Singapore’s urban
renewal plans and SP Group’s own United Nations’ sustainable
development goals of ensuring access to reliable, sustainable
and renewable energy. The plan is to release the land space
for more valuable people-centric use. Once the underground
substation is completed, the existing 230-kV substation will be
decommissioned and the land returned to the state, freeing
up 3 ha (7 acres) of prime space, an area the equivalent of four
football fields.
The larger picture is the underground substation is an es-
sential element of the infrastructure that will contribute to
growth and livability as part of the urban renewal plans for
central and downtown Singapore. With the expectation of a
rise in electric vehicles, for example, maintaining stable and
reliable power infrastructure is paramount. This underground
substation is just one among 11,000 managed by SP Group
that — connected by an underground cable network some
28,000 km (17,400 miles) in length — will drive Singapore’s
smart energy future.
As a result of SP Group’s experience and expertise in the
design and execution of this pilot project as well as the con-
tinued need to conserve space in Singapore, the utility now
foresees this underground substation will be just the first of
more to come.
RYAN WONG (ryanwong@spgroup.com.sg) holds a MSCE degree from National
University of Singapore and a BSCE degree (with second upper class honors) from
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Prior to his employment with SP Power
Grid Ltd. (SPPG), he was with the Land Transport Authority of Singapore, managing
the mass rapid transit circle line and downtown line projects and specializing in the
development and construction of underground space. Wong is a general manager of
SPPG, manager of the special projects branch and project director for the development
of the largest underground substation in Southeast Asia, which is integrated with the
SPPG operation support center and a high-rise commercial tower. Wong also was the
senior project manager for the construction of 40-km (25-mile) transmission cable
tunnels, completed in 2019.
For More Information
Hyundai Engineering & Construction | www.hdec.kr
Pan-United Concrete | www.panunited.com

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26 T&D World | December 2021

 AUTOMATION AND CONTROL
Substation automation systems are the new generation systems
that perform the functions of protection, automation, control.
The New Generation of
Substation Automation
Process bus and LAN redundancy protocols are primary solutions to the evolution
of digital technology in next-generation substations.
By ALDO CURTONI, CESI SpA, and MARCO CATALFAMO, Capgemini Engineering
I
n recent decades, the growing need for electric power has
surfaced the need to implement increasingly efficient and reli-
able automation and protection systems for substations. The
development of remote substation control and automation,
which supports the remote management of a plant, also has
become fundamental to the operation of the electricity network.
Substation automation systems (SAS) are the new gen-
eration of systems that perform the functions of protection,
automation and control. Designed based on the functional
requirements of the IEC 61850 standard, they quickly have
become a key component of the transmission system. In fact,
with the introduction of the IEC 61850 standard, utilities
evolved from engineering the functionality in a substation
with electromechanical systems to the adoption of architec-
tures operating with standardized sets of protocols on high-
speed local area networks (LANs). This step also made it
possible to bring uniformity to the operation of each station,
whereas previously they operated with proprietary solutions
that oftentimes differed from each other. For this reason, an
important benefit of IEC 61850 was laying the foundation for
28 T&D World | December 2021
interoperability between devices from different suppliers.
Thanks to the use of high-speed network technologies inside
the substation, it was possible to develop the process bus —
defined and regulated by IEC 61850-9-2 and IEC 61850-9-2LE
— for the transmission of measurements to the equipment
of monitoring and protection through digital protocols. The
centrality of transmission networks has resulted in utilities us-
ing redundancy techniques aimed at strengthening the LANs
to handle the increasing flow of information.
Today, interoperability plays an important role in the adop-
tion of the process bus to enable communication from the
merging unit (MU) to the protection units. Furthermore,
using the parallel redundancy protocol (PRP) and highly
available seamless redundancy (HSR) can strengthen the
communication network.
Interoperability Aspects
An essential building block of a SAS, the MU acquires current
and voltage signals from various transformers, converts them
into digital form and sends them through the process bus, as
 AUTOMATION AND CONTROL

sampled values (SV), to protection and

monitoring equipment, often from dif-
Station
ferent manufacturers. Computer
In the implementation of this digi-
Station level
tal solution, the definition of a struc- IEC 61850 GOOSE-Report

tured test process is fundamental to the Station Bus

following tasks: Bay level

Protection Protection Protection
• System integration — Testing Bay control unit 1 unit 2 unit 2
unit manufacturer 1 manufacturer 2 manufacturer n
and verifying the correctness of
the configuration of the devices
involved in the communica-
tion, engineering of the IEC Process Bus
Sampled values IEC 61850-9-2/LE
61850 profile and interoper-
ability of devices from different Merging unit Merging unit
current Voltage
manufacturers
• Functionality — Single-device
Sensor
protection setting, timing, zone- Power System
reach testing, communication
testing, interlocking testing SAS architecture with process bus.
and verification of the reaction
times of the protections after fault events with optical sensors, it is important to verify some fundamental
• Performance — Definition of performance evaluation results:
criteria and performance in terms of • Current sensors must be substantially insensitive both to
latency delay in data transmission, priority handling the possible centering of the current conductors and to
and single/double points of failure testing, and the greater or lesser uniformity of the distribution of
interlock testing. coils around the coils of the sensor itself.
With regard to interoperability among the high-voltage • Current sensors must not have interference between
optical sensors, MU and distance protections in the high- the phases.
voltage line, an ad hoc LAN is used with two distinct sections: • Values coming from the MU must be read in a congruent
the process bus, in which SV is generated by the MU transit, way by the protections of different manufacturers.
and the station bus, for sending the information — through The second check for interoperability involves the time-synchro-
a generic object-oriented substation event (GOOSE) and re- nization system. Synchronization of the devices is an important
port — to the substation server. In this context, some of the aspect as defined in IEC 61850-5-2LE. However, to allow for
following checks are key: comparison between the test results, it is equally important for
• Measure verifications of the protections. the tools used in the tests, the MU and the circuits implemented
• Check on the time-synchronization system. with the respective technologies to be synchronized by the same
• Verify correctness of the data flow. source of synchronism.
The third check for interoperability is to verify correctness of
Checking for Interoperability the data flow. In conditions of absence of perturbations in the field
Regarding the first check for interoperability, measuring measurements (rest condition), it is important to verify the com-
verifications of the protections consists of verifying the cor- munication network allows normal circulation of the SV, GOOSE
rect behavior of the optical measurement chain (that is, the and report in the dedicated network segments. Verifying the flow
optical sensors, MU and protections, with generation of SV out of the MU complies with the IEC61850-9-2/-2-LE standard.
and, more generally, the measurement
functions of the protections being test-
ed). Some preliminary tests normally are High Ring Network PRP Network

performed in stationary conditions, with

Device
voltages and sinusoidal currents at 50 Hz
constant in module and phase as well as
Device Device
with conditioning signals (logic inputs)
Ethernet switch Ethernet switch
constant with standard values. Each test
in which no fault events occur enables a
utility to verify the congruence of voltage
and current measurements (and related Device Device Device Device
phase-shift angles) at different levels,
including short circuits.
In relation to current measurements HSR and PRP architectures.
December 2021 | T&D World 29
 AUTOMATION AND CONTROL
PRP and HSR Protocols
Communication requirements in substations are evolving to
support advanced applications based on mission-critical mes-
sages, such as the execution of fast protection and control
commands. In this scenario, network redundancy becomes a
crucial implementation aspect and must be designed to en-
sure adequate recovery times for mission-critical functions in
the event of a failure. In this sense, networks based on classic
redundancy through rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP)
may not provide transmission reliability.
IEC 62439-3 responds to this need by defining two protocols
that provide near zero recovery time: PRP and HSR.
For most communications in substations — such as that between
field devices and station supervisory control and data acquisi-
tion (SCADA) — a recovery time of hundreds of milliseconds
is adequate, while for messages — for example, lock or unlock,
based on GOOSE or SV messages — this time is high. A mission-
critical message must be received within the time limits of a
milliseconds interval, otherwise the protection functions would
be compromised.
The goal of implementing a redundant network is to ensure
timely packet delivery for various applications. The IEC 62439-
4 standard defines PRP and the IEC 62439-5 standard defines
HSR—both with a 0-msec fail-over time, as required by critical
high-speed functions with no packet loss. Two independent net-
work interfaces present on a single device transmit the same data at
the same time. The redundancy monitoring protocol ensures the
recipient uses only the first data packet and discards the second.
30 T&D World | December 2021
The concept of PRP is based on the dispatch of two copies
of each frame on two redundant hardware paths that also
can be different in terms of performance and topology. PRP
is implemented in end devices, and switches on the network
use standard Ethernet. The PRP unit sends a message to
the network through both ports at the same time, with the
message passing through the two independent networks to
the PRP unit. The unit manages the first packet and discards
the second.
Unlike PRP, HSR is designed for use in ring topologies. The
basic principle is to send identical frames in both directions
around a ring. This ensures a copy of the message will arrive
at its destination, even if the ring is broken. Using two network
ports, an HSR connection incorporates a double node that
connects the two interfaces to form a ring. Each HSR node
receives all frames that are sent only to it. Multicast and broad-
cast messages are relayed by every node in the ring. To prevent
these messages from circulating forever, the HSR node that
initially sends the message over the ring will remove it when
it returns to the node.
In the case of a failure, a frame is sent by using the net-
work in operation. In this way, there is redundancy with zero
switchover time.
Process bus and LAN redundancy protocols are primary
solutions to the evolution of digital technology in next-
generation electrical substations. The challenge that awaits
transmission system operators (TSOs) now is implementing
such solutions, fully exploiting their potential and ensuring
complete interoperability between the
devices involved. This can be achieved
only through proper design and testing
processes.
ALDO CURTONI (aldo.curtoni@cesi.it) is a senior con-
sultant in the field of operation technologies with CESI
SpA, headquartered in Milan, Italy, and with facilities in
the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, United Arab
Emirates, Brazil, Chile and USA. With a master’s degree
in telecommunications engineering, Curtoni specializes
in substation automation systems, SCADA and energy
management systems, communication protocols like
IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-104/101/103, IEC37.118,
and control and monitoring systems at the generation,
transmission and distribution levels.
MARCO CATALFAMO (marco.a.catalfamo@capgemini.
com) is an expert consultant in the Energy, Industry &
Electronics, Life Sciences (EILIS) division of Capgemini
Engineering, with over twenty years of extensive and
progressive professional experience in the electric power
industry. In-depth knowledge of all stages of project life
cycles, Catalfamo is highly skilled in SCADA and energy
management systems, distribution control systems,
remote control systems, integration of heterogeneous
complex systems and communication protocols like IEC
60870-5-101/103/104, IEC 61850, Modbus and open
platform communications (OPC).
 AUTOMATION AND CONTROL

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tdworld.com/NN81KA December 2021 | T&D World 31
 UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION
The cable pull-in procedure at Peloponnese landfall.
Deepwater Design
Independent Power Transmission Operator uses a new type of submarine cable design to
interconnect the Greek Islands.
By MICHAIL CHATZIPANOS, IOANNIS MARGARIS, KONSTANTINOS TSIREKIS and SAVVAS KATEMLIADIS,
Independent Power Transmission Operator SA, Greece
H
istorically, the design of high-voltage submarine cables in-
cludes steel tensile elements (armoring) stranded around
the circumference of the power cable core. Typically, the
steel tensile elements are galvanized to protect against
corrosion. The main purpose of the tensile elements is to support
the weight of the cable, as it is suspended from the cable-laying
vessel to the seabed while being installed (or recovered). Within
the design of high-voltage (HV power cables, it is important the
elongation of the conductors, and thus the cable, is limited to a
Handling tests on rigid repair joint.
32 T&D World | December 2021
very low level. Therefore, it is necessary to provide tensile elements
with sufficient tensile modulus of elasticity and cross-sectional
area to ensure minimum cable elongation.
The steel stranding added to provide more elasticity area also
increases the weight of the cable. The tensile strength elements
at any point along the cable during installation must support the
total weight of the cable while maintaining the cable elongation
below the desired level. The position on the cable subjected to
the highest stress (and strain) is the point on the cable just as it
leaves (or enters) the cable-laying vessel,
where the tensile elements are supporting
the total weight of the cable between this
point and the seabed. Depending on the
depth of the water, the weight of the sus-
pended cable will cause cable elongation
outside the specified design limits.
To resolve this cable elongation prob-
lem, it has been a long-term goal of manu-
facturers to design and build submarine
cables that are as light as possible without
compromising the cable’s mechanical and
electrical performance, which could en-
able the deployment of cost-efficient and
fit-for-purpose solutions. The Independent
Power Transmission Operator SA (IPTO)
in Greece successfully installed such
a submarine cable design recently to
interconnect the Greek islands.
Submarine Cable Design
Steel tensile elements in a typical sub-
marine cable have a density of about
 UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION

8 g/cu cm (4.6 oz/cu inch) and a tensile

modulus of elasticity of about 200 GPa.
A gigapascal (GPa) is a decimal multiple
of the pascal, which is the International
System of Units (SI) derived unit of pres-
sure, stress, Young’s modulus and ulti-
mate tensile strength. Synthetic yarns can
have densities between 1 g/cu cm and 1.5
g/cu cm (0.58 oz/cu inch and 0.86 oz/cu
inch) and a tensile modulus of elasticity
of around 100 GPa. In theory, it is pos-
sible to replace 1 sq cm (0.16 sq inch) of
the steel tensile elements with about 2
sq cm (0.32 sq inch) of synthetic tensile
elements — to have the same elasticity
area — but the synthetic tensile element
will weigh around 70% less than the steel.
A polymeric sheath is extruded
around the synthetic yarns mainly to
protect the yarns during cable manu-
facture. When the tensile elements are
applied to the cable (in one or more Unspooling during cable laying on Evia-Andros Interconnector.
layers), they are covered then by one or
more layers of polypropylene rope, with the typical yellow or continuous current rating and a lower conductor temperature
white stripe, which gives them their characteristic appearance. than synthetic-fiber tensile elements, the reduced weight of the
synthetic-fiber tensile elements make this solution preferred for
Comparison of Cables very deepwater applications.
The following alternative tensile element design solutions were
considered by IPTO in Greece: galvanized steel, stainless steel Prototype Testing
and synthetic fiber. The following performance characteristics A project-specific type test was performed on a prototype cable
were analyzed: with synthetic-fiber tensile elements. Mechanical tests simulat-
• Effect on electrical losses during operation — ing the project-specific installation conditions and methodol-
Stainless-steel and synthetic fibers are nonmagnetic ogy were performed in accordance with anticipated customer
and, therefore, do not cause electrical losses. specifications.
• Thermal conductivity and its
effect on ampacity and maxi-
mum conductor temperature
— Synthetic fibers have lower
thermal conductivity than me-
tallic elements, which needs to
be taken into consideration.
• Weight-to-stiffness ratio and its
effect on installation suitability
— Synthetic fibers have a much
lower density than the two
metal alternatives.
Stainless-steel and synthetic-fiber
tensile elements have performance
characteristics greater than or equal
to galvanized steel with respect to
cable elongation, steady-state elec-
trical losses, continuous current rat-
ing, conductor temperature, cable
breaking strength, cable weight and
cable-laying tension.
Although stainless-steel tensile
elements provide a slightly higher Subsea cable laying on Crete-Peloponnese Interconnector along with Cast Iron Shells installation.
December 2021 | T&D World 33
 UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION

Performance calculations compared to the galvanized steel base case.

Tensile Acceptable Electrical Continuous Conductor Cable Cable Weight Cable Weight Cable-Laying
Element Cable Losses at Current Temperature, Breaking in Air, % in Water, % Tension, %
Elongation Steady Rating, % % Strength, %
State, %
Galvanized Steel Yes 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
(Base Case)
Stainless Steel Yes 74 110-113* 83-85* 100 100 100 100
Synthetic Fibers Yes 74 106 -109* 88-91* 113 75 60 65
*Depending on specific cable route.

Cable image taken by remotely operated vehicle at 968-m (3176-ft) depth on Crete-Peloponnese Interconnector (left). Field rigid joint installed at 485 m (1591 ft)
on Crete-Peloponnese Interconnector (right).

The cable test sample included newly developed factory
joints and a rigid repair joint. The maximum pulling tension
for the tensile bending test was 450 kN, and the same value
was applied for the straight tensile test. These results were
deemed satisfactory as the type test was performed success-
fully to qualify the cable design for deepwater installation at
the maximum water depth of 1000 m (3280 ft), in accordance
with CIGRE Technical Brochures 623 and 490 as well as rel-
evant International Electrotechnical Commission standards.
Longitudinal (conductor and sheath) and radial (factory joint
and repair joint) water-penetration tests were performed at
96 bar, in accordance with the design-approved maximum
water depth, and the cable system (cable and accessories)
successfully passed all tests.
Greek Transmission System
Cable manufacturer Prysmian Group found a partner in the
IPTO in Greece that was willing to provide suitable applications
for this new cable technology. The goal of the projects was to
ensure the HV cable satisfied power transmission requirements
with the additional capability of allowing for cost-effective and
safe cable installation at increased water depths.
The Greek transmission system includes many non-intercon-
nected inhabited islands. These islands are located mostly in
the deepwater regions of the Aegean Sea, with a maximum
sea depth of 3543 m (11,625 ft), and the Ionian Sea, with a
maximum sea depth 5267 m (17,280 ft) — the deepest sea
depth in the Mediterranean. Most of the large Greek islands,
namely Crete and Rhodes, have significant power requirements.
The cable design selected for all interconnections was a 150-kV
alternating-current (ac), three-core cable with 630-sq mm (0.98-sq
inch) copper conductors and two layers of flat tensile elements
containing high modulus synthetic fibers. The first installation
selected for this new cable design was the connections between
the three Greek islands of Evia, Andros and Tinos. A second
installation selected was the long subsea interconnector between
Crete and Peloponnese on the Greek mainland.
Inter-Island Connections
The first 2.5-km (1.55-mile) length of 150-kV submarine cable
was installed between Andros and Tinos, and the second 14-
km (8.7-mile) 150-kV submarine cable was installed between
Andros and Evia. The sea state during cable installation on
the seabed at a maximum depth of 550 m (1805 ft) had a wave

34 T&D World | December 2021


height of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) that corresponded to a laying tension
in the order of 200 kN.
The cable installation required four beach pulls, two of
which were undertaken at the island substation located some
150 m (490 ft) from the shoreline. The low cable weight enabled
this operation to be completed without any additional risks
during installation, which went smoothly and was executed
according to plan without any incidents.
The installation of the two Evia-Andros-Tinos low-loss 150-
kV island interconnectors kicked off in September 2019 and
concluded in November 2019, with both interconnectors in
commission by February 2020.
Crete-Peloponnese Interconnector
A third interconnection using synthetic-yarn tensile elements was
installed between Crete and Peloponnese. This interconnection
of Crete — the biggest island in Greece — with the Greek main-
land was originally envisaged in the early 1970s. The electricity
production sector in Crete is responsible for approximately 60%
of the island’s CO2 emissions, as a result of using heavy fuel oil
(HFO) and diesel in the power plants.
Therefore, the key objectives for this interconnector project
were as follows;
• Reduce CO2 emissions attributed to the oil-fired stations
by replacing these power plants with generation from
natural gas and renewable energy sources (RES)
enhanced by the interconnector to the mainland.
• Reduce electricity generation costs in Crete by replacing
expensive oil-fired generation units with more efficient
generation from the mainland of Greece.
• Reduce the emissions of pollutants (for example,
NOx and SO2), which will have a positive effect on
the environment and tourism.
• Contribute significantly to the increasing demand
for energy using RES (wind and solar) installed on
the island of Crete.
• Improve the security of supply for customers on
the island.
The Crete-Peloponnese interconnector project connects Crete
to the Greek mainland transmission system on the Peloponnese
Peninsula. The total length of the submarine cable intercon-
nector is approximately 135 km (84 miles), laid at a maximum
installation depth of 960 m (3150 ft) with a total submarine cable
length of approximately 135 km. This 150-kV interconnector has
a load-transfer capacity of 200 MVA.
During cable laying at the deepest point of the installation, the
aramid armored cable was subjected to a laying tension of about
UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION
Mechanical tests.
Mechanical • Tensile bending test
450 kN
Preconditioning • Straight tensile test
Special Tests • Crush test
• Crush test for long-term stacking
• Impact test Project-specific parameters
• Handling test
• Pulling stocking test
340 kN — approximately 46% less than the respective tension
of a conventional galvanized-steel double-armored submarine
cable used for deepwater interconnections. Correspondingly, the
weight of the aramid armored cable was approximately 34 kg/m
(23 lb/ft), some 47.5% less in comparison with a conventional
submarine cable.
The Crete-Peloponnese project confirmed the measured
onboard tension of aramid armored cable increases linearly
as the depth of lay increases, as shown by data extracted from
the daily installation progress reports. It was clear the forces a
submarine cable with synthetic-fiber tensile elements experi-
ences during cable-laying installation were significantly less
than those subjected to a conventional cable.
The submarine cable installation required two beach pulls,
thereby consisting of two laying campaigns. The first campaign
was from Nopigia in Crete to the 67th-km (42nd-mile) position
of the interconnection (KP 67), while the second campaign ex-
tended from KP 67 to Neapolis, Peloponnese. Two in-line cable
joints were installed along the interconnection at positions KP
67 and KP 115. Including weather contingencies, the submarine
cable installation took 34 days to complete — some three days
quicker than originally planned.
The cable-laying campaigns and onshore pull-in procedures
took place smoothly and were completed without any additional
risks. All operations were performed according to plan without
incident.
The 24-hr test electrification of the submarine cable system
was undertaken successfully on Dec. 23, 2020. The IPTO and
Prysmian, the contractor for this project, formally announced
the completion of the submarine interconnector in early April
2021. Operation of the Crete-Peloponnese Interconnection as
a whole began soon thereafter, when all its other components
were completed.
Future Application
As a conclusion, there is only reference to the benefits of the
high-strength synthetic-fiber tensile element design concerning
the reduction of electrical losses.
There is no reference to the reduced onboard tension during
December 2021 | T&D World 35
 UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION

strength synthetic-fiber armor design unlocks

the potential use of this solution for other
applications.

Acknowledgment
The authors wish to thank the following for their
kind support throughout this major project and
in the preparation of this article: D. Kostopoulos
of Aventa, S. Trolli of Prysmian Powerlink SpA,
and E. Consonni and D. Parris of Prysmian SpA.

MICHAIL CHATZIPANOS (m.chatzipanos@admie.gr) has an

electrical and computer engineering degree from the National
Technical University of Athens, Greece, and an MBA degree with
honours from Athens University of Economics and Business. He
has worked as a business consultant for major international
companies. Since 2011, Chatzipanos has worked in the new
projects department of IPTO in Greece, specializing in end-to-end
cable transmission line projects from concept to construction.
He currently serves as head of the transmission lines studies
section and is a member of CIGRE.
Cable pull-in procedure at Crete landfall.
DR. IOANNIS MARGARIS (i.margaris@admie.gr) has a diploma
in electrical and computer engineering and a Ph.D., both from
the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Following
his Ph.D. research with the Risoe-Wind Power department of the
Technical University of Denmark (DTU), he served as an assistant
professor at DTU. Margaris served on the board of directors for
OTE in 2015 and as vice chairman of the board of directors for the
Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator in 2015-2017.
Since 2017, he has served as vice chairman of the board of direc-
tors and chief technology, system planning and strategy officer
for IPTO and as general manager of Ariadne Interconnection, a
subsidiary of IPTO for the high-voltage direct-current Crete-Attica
Interconnection. Margaris also is a member of the board of
directors for the Greek National Committee of CIGRE.

DR. KONSTANTINOS TSIREKIS (ktsirekis@admie.gr) received

electrical engineering and doctorate of engineering degrees from
the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. In 2001, he
joined the planning department of IPTO in Greece, where he is
responsible for the composition of the 10-year network
Cable pull-in procedure at Peloponnese landfall.
development plan. Tsirekis currently is director of the new
Scheduled plan of works vs. actual work schedule. projects department and oversees the construction of new overhead, underground,
and submarine transmission lines and extra-high-voltage substations.
Scheduled Plan Actual Work
of Work, Days Schedule, Days
First Campaign Load 7 8 SAVVAS KATEMLIADIS (s.katemliadis@admie.gr) currently works in the maintenance
department of IPTO in Greece. Previously, he worked in the quality control section of
First Campaign Lay 10 + 2* 10
IPTO and had areas of responsibility that included substation and transmission lines
Second Campaign Load 9 8
equipment (routine, type testing and quality assurance). Katemliadis’ professional
Second Campaign Lay 7 + 2* 8
interests are in quality, test methods for electrical equipment and the implementation
*Weather contingency.
of on-line monitoring systems for the transmission system. He is a member of CIGRE
cable laying, which makes this solution prefferable for deepwater and the IEEE.
applications. For the Evia-Andros-Tinos project, the total cable
losses reduction is estimated to be on the order of about 15%. Company Listings
The positive experiences gathered from both projects IPTO | www.admie.gr
in Greece and the consequent maturation of the high- Prysmian | www.prysmiangroup.com

36 T&D World | December 2021

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 DATA ANALYTICS
Drone conducts aerial inspection of transmission tower.
Drones, IoT and Visualization
SSEN Transmission improves system reliability with capture and use of inspection data.
By STUART KNIGHT, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission
P
art of the SSE Group, Scottish and Southern Electricity
Networks Transmission owns and maintains the 400-kV,
275-kV and 132-kV transmission systems across the ma-
jority of Scotland. In 2019, the utility reviewed its digital
strategy, outlining its commitment to safety, innova-
tion and the best environmental practices — particu-
larly those that apply to the routine operation and
maintenance of its transmission system assets, such as
overhead lines and substations in northern Scotland. The
Location of transmission system substations in northern Scotland.
38 T&D World | December 2021
utility’s asset base includes around 11,500 transmission
line towers and 158 substations and switching stations.
Transmission line faults create disturbances that can have
a significant impact on the system, reducing overall stability
and security as well as resulting in the loss of renewable en-
ergy generation, as is often the case with modern networks.
In extreme cases, it can even result in the loss of widespread
customer supplies. For this reason, Scottish and Southern
Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission works hard to
ensure its inspection and maintenance
programs are robust. Traditionally, this
included field staff climbing transmission
towers to carry out routine inspections,
intervening to replace worn and damaged
fittings as required. However, this required
circuit outages and had the inherent risks
associated with working at heights.
As part of its digital strategy, the SSE
Group engaged Cyberhawk — a drone-based
aerial inspection and data management so-
lutions provider — to check the integrity of
its overhead transmission system and adopt
innovative digital solutions. In action since
2012, this program has transformed the way
in which SSEN Transmission captures and
uses inspection data today.
 DATA ANALYTICS

Multilevel Data
Recognizing the benefits of effective data management,
SSEN Transmission now accesses terabytes of data cap-
tured from drone inspections on Cyberhawk’s cloud-based
internet of things (IoT) visualization platform, iHawk.
This enables the utility to actively manage assets through-
out their life cycle and accurately make informed future
capital investments, driving whole-life value.
The platform offers operational, project and asset teams
unprecedented access to multilevel data, giving them
a more comprehensive understanding of the network,
exposing integrity risks and revealing opportunities for
improvement. This innovative approach to data man-
agement is key to managing network assets and central
to how SSEN Transmission’s operational team manages
inspections, maintenance, safety and compliance. The 400-kV, 275-kV and 132-kV transmission system in northern Scotland.
an outage was planned and a repair carried out the follow-
Drone Inspections ing weekend. In this case, the drone data on iHawk likely
By carrying out drone inspections as business as usual and en- prevented a circuit failure and the loss of a key transmission
suring the data is efficiently processed and accessed on iHawk, circuit. By keeping its transmission lines in top condition, SSEN
SSEN Transmission’s highly skilled operational teams can iden- Transmission can retain a high level of network reliability at
tify issues early and focus interventions on the highest priority the lowest cost possible, ensuring delivery of the best value to
items, before they fail. the customer.
The condition of towers and insulator fittings can deteriorate Furthermore, SSEN Transmission also has worked with
over time, leading to potentially catastrophic incidents. Therefore, Cyberhawk on the iSim application within iHawk, enabling the
the first priority is to provide a safe and secure transmission utility to apply the same rigor in managing its substation assets.
network. After all, the risk is too high to adopt piecemeal or As a result, inspection and maintenance data now are entered
percentage-based inspections. To overcome this, Cyberhawk at the point of work, ensuring accuracy and the most up-to-date
continues to support SSEN Transmission by conducting regular information is available for the maintenance teams.
drone-based inspections, which are agile, use time effectively
and provide a safer alternative to the in-person method. Put Data Collection
simply: The operational staff and their time are too precious. Cyberhawk’s data management solution also provided the system
Drone surveys provide the opportunity to get the most from this for compliance. As part of a compliance audit, iHawk ensures the
team while reducing risk and improving the performance of the SSEN Transmission data systems satisfy the statutory obligations
network in the most efficient manner. of the electricity safety, quality and continuity (ESQC) regulations
For example, in 2020, Cyberhawk’s visual inspection data as the main holding of the data interrogated. ESQC regula-
identified a missing split pin on a tower fitting. As a result, tions (2002) dictate that electricity distribution and transmission

Drone inspection images found an insulator fitting with missing split pin.

December 2021 | T&D World 39

 DATA ANALYTICS

Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) has been used extensively

as an insulation medium in high-voltage equipment
for more than 60 years, but it is now recognized as
one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Although
the industry is beginning to develop alternatives —
environmentally friendlier insulation and interrupt-
ing gases — the amount of SF6 is so vast it will be on
the network for years to come. To mitigate the impact
of this legacy and maximize network availability and
performance, SSEN Transmission works tirelessly to
reduce the leakage of SF6 gas from its assets.
SSEN Transmission is now benefitting from
Cyberhawk’s decades of oil and gas industry experi-
ence. The company recently introduced a new pressure-
monitoring system that enables SSEN Transmission’s
plant maintenance teams to remotely monitor the SF6
gas chambers and zones within the utility’s assets.
An IoT sensor monitors for any leaks of the colour-
A transmission line and pylon on Cruichan mountain, close to a pumped storage hydroelectric less, odourless synthetic gas. As soon as the system
power station, in the Highlands of Scotland. JoeDunckley/Getty Images
identifies a reading — regardless of the volume and
utilities must inspect and maintain accurate records of their how minor the leak — the operations team is alerted to take
assets. Without these records, SSEN Transmission would not remedial action and repair the leak immediately, to limit gas
be able to comply. from escaping into the environment. This not only enables the
iHawk put the data at SSEN Transmission’s fingertips, allowing utility to manage SF6 leaks proactively, but it also improves net-
teams to rapidly access historic information in one centralized work performance, allowing plant outages for gas top-ups to
place, providing ease of navigation and categorization. The utility be coordinated in a wider program and reducing the need for
can pinpoint key information, such as general-condition data, immediate, forced action.
number of defects reported during any given time period in any
given area or circuit, plus evidence to confirm remedial work Impact of Covid-19
orders have been completed. When the impact of Covid-19 on the UK population became
iHawk functionality enables efficient reporting of defects iden- clear at the start of 2020, many businesses faced disruption of
tified during substation and overhead line inspections, enabling their day-to-day operations. Therefore, maintaining a secure and
team members to tag defect notices to any given asset or location. reliable supply of electrical energy was more essential, creating
The ability to include pictorial evidence and user commentary more pressure than ever before. The pressure was on utilities
before autonomously passing an inspection over to maintenance and their employees to continue to deliver this essential service
managers for approval, scheduling and reporting enables quick despite the imposed restrictions.
reaction to any defects identified. SSEN Transmission has an unwavering commitment to
keeping people safe, reiterated by its safety message: “If it’s
Environmental Impact not safe, we don’t do it.” In March 2020, SSEN Transmission
SSEN Transmission recognizes the digitalization of its systems faced the challenge of ensuring critical inspections and main-
and processes — underpinned by high-quality, accessible data tenance activities continued while allowing staff to comply
— reinforces its commitment to deliver a network for net zero. with social distancing. Using iHawk tablets meant there was
no reliance on paper-based systems, so it was possible to mini-
mize face-to-face contact between the maintenance teams
and engineering staff.

STUART KNIGHT (stuart.knight@sse.com) has 15 years of industry experience with

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), starting as an apprentice and
progressing, via protection and control engineering, to the position of head of opera-
tions. With wide experience in operations, maintenance and large capital projects,
Knight has played a significant role in the growth of the northern Scotland transmission
network over the past decade, with highlights such as commissioning SSEN’s first
400-kV site, first IEC 61850 installation and first high-voltage direct-current link, all
while supporting the day- to-day operations of the T&D business.

For More Information

SSEN employee using iHawk table to access work orders. Cyberhawk | https://thecyberhawk.com

40 T&D World | December 2021

 Lifeline 40B | Safety Conference 40D | Parting Shot 40H

ELECTRIC UTILITY
OPERATIONS
DECEMBER 2021 tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations

Welcome Back!
Electric Utility Operations

CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR DECEMBER
FEATURED LINEMAN!
Tom Swayne
DTE
• Born in Pontiac, Michigan, and has four sisters.
• Married to Lynne for 35 years and has three children and
three grandchildren.
• Enjoys traveling to Europe. He and his wife just visited his
youngest son who is stationed in Germany.
• He and his teammates, John Appleberg and Keith Wilder, Tom Swayne and his team from DTE won the senior division at the 2021
International Lineman’s Rodeo.
won the senior’s division and placed 10th overall in the jour-
neyman division at the 2021 International Lineman’s Rodeo.
happened, I made the decision to be a person to stand up
• Can’t live without the battery-powered tools and the new
for those things so they wouldn’t happen again in the future.
flame-retardant clothing, which he says is thinner, lasts
longer and is better equipped for the weather.
Memorable Storm
I’ll never forget Puerto Rico. We were there for two months.
The challenges of the terrain and working in the rainforest
Early Years were very memorable. It rained almost every day, and the heat
When I was 19 years old, I had some tree trimming experi- was excruciating. The people, however, we some of the nicest I
ence, and my friend suggested that I try line work. I started have ever met. They had their power off for months, and it was
my apprenticeship in 1987, and if I had to do it over again, I wonderful to help them to just to get the fridge working again
wouldn’t change a thing. or get a few lights back on. Being able to help people like that
I started with contractors such as Harlan Electric through was a wonderful thing.
my American Line Builders Apprenticeship Training program.
In two years, at the age of 21, I topped out, and by the time I was Career-Defining Moment
22, I was promoted to a leader and a foreman. Two years later, The day that I topped out was an important time for me.
I had an eight-person crew, and at 27 years old, I worked as a When you hold that journeyman ticket, it opens a whole new
general foreman. By the time I turned 30, I moved to the power world for you, and you must be prepared for the responsibilities
company. DTE has been a great company to work for. that come with it.

Day in the Life Life in the Line Trade

As a journeyman lineman and apprentice crew instructor, I
run a crew of 11 apprentices. It is challenging but very reward-
ing. Our job is to prepare them for when they get out in the
field so they can be an asset to their crew. We have our appren-
tices do projects unique to our business so they can gain some
hands-on experience.
Challenges and Rewards
Some of the challenges are safety issues, the climate and the
ever-changing weather. We have had to restore power after the
worst storms in Michigan’s history. The rewards are helping
people and gaining their appreciation after we do a good job
on storm restorations or regular work. Line work also pays well,
which is very rewarding.
I would definitely go into the line trade again. It has been so
rewarding. About 99 percent of the time, I look forward to get-
ting up and going to work. Not many people can say that.
Editor’s Note: T&D World is partnering with Milwaukee Tool for
our Lifeline department. To thank the linemen for their dedica-
tion to the line trade, Milwaukee will send a tool package to each
lineman profiled. If you are interested in being profiled in our
monthly Lifeline department or know of a journeyman lineman
who would be a good candidate, email T&D World Field Editor
Amy Fischbach at amyfischbach@gmail.com.

Safety Lesson Sponsored by

I lost a good friend of mine years ago. He was an appren-
tice, and he lost his life due to a series of mistakes. After that
40B T&D World | December 2021
Electric Utility Operations

Everyone from line school students to experienced supervisors learned about

safe work practices at the Rodeo safety conference.

Elevating Safety in the Line Trade

The 2021 International Lineman’s Rodeo Week kicked off
with a half-day safety conference for linemen.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor

I
n line work, safe work practices can mean the difference be- companies were not able to participate in the Lineman’s
tween a lineman going home at the end of the day or landing Rodeo. As a result, the ILRA opted to shorten the safety confer-
in the emergency room. To keep safety top of mind for the ence from a day-and-a-half to a half-day conference for 2021.
field workforce, the International Lineman’s Rodeo Associa- “We went to a half day due to the pandemic and the num-
tion (ILRA) launched a safety conference to start off the 2021 bers, but we would like to go back to a day-and-a-half confer-
Rodeo Week. ence next year,” says Mike Hayward, ILRA board member.
Due to travel restrictions and concerns surrounding Line school students to experienced field supervisors at-
the COVID-19 pandemic, international teams and some tended the conference, which was sponsored by Burns & Mc-
Donnell, Safeguard and IBEW Locals
47, 66 and 304, to learn about safety in
the electric utility industry.
Mike Stremel, training manager
for Midwest Energy, says the Rodeo
has been a great event for him to
challenge himself and coworkers,
meet with other utility workers across
the country. He attended the safety
conference to hear from Carl Potter,
a safety speaker, as well as from an
accident survivor.
“It’s great to hear the stories of
people who have been in the indus-
try and want to share their passion
and dedication to the industry,”
Stremel says.
“They are promoting safety to the
young people coming into the trade.
Due to the attendance numbers related to the pandemic, the ILRA opted for a half-day safety conference for It’s a great event, and it’s great to be
2021. back this year at the Rodeo.”
40D T&D World | December 2021
 Electric Utility Operations

Evolution of Safety
Carl Potter, the founder of the Safety Insti-
tute and author of 12 books, started off his
presentation by thanking the attendees for
their dedication throughout the pandemic.
“Our operating centers were like ghost
towns during the pandemic, but workers
were taking the bull by the horns and step-
ping it up,” he says. “This is the cream of the
crop, and this is where you come to find out
how you can be better at what you do.”
With his 17 years of front-line experi-
ence in the utility industry, Potter drove the
importance of safety home for the attend-
ees. He says linemen need to change their
attitude and personal culture about safety.
“When something happens, and one
of us screws up, you may think it is some-
one else’s fault,” he says. “In reality, you
may have screwed up and failed to do
something.” Carl Potter of The Safety Institute kicked off the safety conference with his presentation, “Keeping
Over the years, however, the line trade Safety Simple.”
has become safer due to advances in personal protective “Keep your eyes open,” Potter says. “Have your head on a
equipment, he says. For example, more linemen are wearing swivel. Watch your coworkers and say stop, watch what you’re
100% fall equipment when competing at the International doing. If you see an unsafe condition, take action and then
Lineman’s Rodeo. restart the safety clock.”
“You can do your job just as effectively with safety equip- Potter advised the linemen to be proactive about safety by
ment if it is done right,” Potter says. “If everything else goes volunteering to participate in the safety committees or speak
bad, hopefully, the PPE will save your life.” at a safety meeting.
As the linemen of yesterday evolved from wearing fedoras to “Stand in front of your peers,” Potter says. “You can make
hard hats and riding horses or using bucket trucks, they have a statement and make some bold moves. If you have had at
continued to improve their safe work practices. least eight years in the craft, you are a safety professional.
“Do you know how hard it was for linemen to give up fedoras Act like one.”
for hard hats?” Potter asked the crowd. “Like farmers, they just Also, he told them to not go outside their scope of work.
got it done. Today, however, we know that if you do this job long For example, overhead linemen may not know how to do
enough, something will happen. Every time you go out to do a underground work, just as underground linemen may not
job, you flip the coin and roll the dice anew. If you don’t wipe climb poles.
the slate clean and look at your job today and test your equip- “You can’t know it all,” he says.
ment, all bets are off.” Finally, he advised the attendees to check out all the person-
The past safety goals for organizations were to keep injuries al protective equipment (PPE) at the Lineman’s Expo, which
below common injury rates and reduce the number of injuries started immediately following the safety conference.
from the year before. It can be like a catch 22 for many utilities, “Understand why you were proper PPE, and seek out more
however, he says. comfortable PPE,” he says. “We will get better and better.”
“We get better, then something happens, and we look back,”
he says. “There has got to be a goal where we all work together Sharing a Personal Injury Story
— the IBEW, management and rank and file. Everyone has to Following Potter’s presentation and a short networking break,
understand what the culture is.” Kent Brown, manager of safety for Evergy, introduced the final
Regardless of the demands of work, linemen must be ex- two speakers: Zachary and Mylinda Spicer.
pected to take time to do it safely, he urged the audience. At every Rodeo safety conference, a speaker shares a per-
“Fate is the hunter that seeks those who are least prepared,” sonal injury story, and 2021 was no exception. Zachary shared
he says. “Look at your crew. Stay safe in your work zone. Focus his story of how he survived an arc flash blast at a substation.
on job planning.” When he walked out of the substation house the after-
For example, if linemen see an apprentice not following noon of the accident, he wore his hard hat and had the
directions or being distracted, they should make sure the sleeves of his flame-retardant shirt rolled up to his elbows. As
apprentice starts focusing so he or she can go home at the he walked out the door, he left his safety glasses on the desk.
end of the day uninjured. He was about to learn the hard way, exactly why FR shirts
December 2021 | T&D World 40E
Electric Utility Operations

“I still have that old hard hat, and it’s

a little crispy but FR is worth its weight
in gold.”
He said before the accident, he
took his eyelids for granted. He had
to have them reconstructed after the
accident.
“I could not close my eyes, and my
little girl didn’t know if I was sleeping
or snoring with eyes open,” he says. I
felt like someone poured sand in my
eyes every day.”
When he was injured, he quickly
discovered that the accident had a
profound effect on not just him and
his family, but also the community.
“When I got hurt, it was like
throwing a rock into a pond watch-
ing the ripples, I was the rock and
the ripples were everyone else that
Zachary shared his personal injury story with the audience at the International Lineman’s Safety Conference.
I affected,” he says. “Life didn’t stop
just because I got injured. Home-
should be worn as designed and not be rolled up at the sleeves. work still needed to be done, dishes needed to be washed,
“I was knocked out for about 10 seconds, and when I woke and cows needed to be fed. That’s what happens whether you
up, my first thought was that I was in a dream,” he recalled. “I are there or not. The world continues on without you.”
have never been face down in the gravel inside a substation. I
came to, popped up and then walked around the station.” Team Spicer
That’s when he saw, Barry, his coworker, who was standing To show their support, Zach’s employer made “Team Spicer”
behind him during the arc blast. The skin from his lips and shirts. His wife, Mylinda, spent 22 days at his side in the hos-
nose was burnt and hanging off. Then he looked down and saw pital while her friends and family pitched in to help with their
the shredded skin hanging off his own arm and hands. He said children. Zachary says he couldn’t have recovered without his
that Barry got hurt because of something he missed. wife there for support. Every night, she would wake him up and
“I have apologized to that man a million times,” he says. “He soothe him following his screaming fits and nightmares.
had a four-year-old granddaughter who he loves to take fishing. “She has a 5-ft, 95-lb frame, but I would put her up against
I came that close to letting that man die and taking him away anyone after enduring all this stuff with me,” he says. “I love
from his granddaughter. There’s a responsibility so deep right her to death.”
there.” Mylinda remembers being in shock when the accident hap-
Zachary, the father of four children, was life-flighted to a pened. “It was rough seeing him for the first time at the hos-
burn unit at a nearby hospital where he spent 22 days in treat- pital,” she says. “His head was so swollen it looked like a bas-
ment. “I have had several broken bones, stitches, and staples,” ketball, and I couldn’t see any features in his face at all. When
he says. “I thought I could handle pain. They told me the he went back to work, it was hard watching him go back to the
amount of medication it would take to take the pain away same job that put him in the hospital for 22 days.”
would kill me.” Zachary, ]who is still in the industry, says his accident has
When eye contacts are exposed to 20,000-30,000 deg, they had a lasting impact on his view on safety. From the day of his
try to melt to your eyeballs, he discovered. accident, he learned the value of recording the full address of
“The doctor said, ‘Mr. Spicer, prepare to be blind,’ he re- where he is working. That way, if an accident happens and he
called. “I was 35 years old with three boys and a little girl at needs to make a 911 call, he can give the dispatchers the exact
home. I thought about seeing my kids that morning before location and save critical time.
they went to school, and I said, “That is the last time I will “You only get one mistake in this line of work, and it’s the
ever see them.” day you were hired,” he says.
In addition to possibly losing his eyesight, he also faced the Editor’s Note: To see a photo gallery and video highlights
possibility of the medical team needing to amputate his right from the 2021 safety conference, visit the T&D World Web site at
arm and the fingers of his left hand. www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations.
“When you get burnt, any inch of skin that is unburnt is a
blessing,” he says. “I never thought of my hard hat as a piece of AMY FISCHBACH (amyfischbach@gmail.com) is the Field Editor for T&D World
FR equipment, but it saved my beautiful head of hair,” he says. magazine.
40F T&D World | December 2021
 RAPID RESPONSE,
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AsplundhConstruction.com
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Electric Utility Operations

Parting Shot
Photo by AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor

After a “Lost Rodeo” year due to the COVID-19

pandemic, linemen and their families were happy to
be back together again. The 122 journeyman linemen
teams and 182 apprentices competed to be the best
of the best at the 2021 International Lineman’s Rodeo
Oct.16, 2021, in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

40H T&D World | December 2021

 THE POWER
TO PROTECT
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 RODEO ROUNDUP
The sun rises on the Rodeo grounds for the start of the
2021 International Lineman’s Rodeo.
Return to the Rodeo
After a “Lost Year” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, linemen compete at the 37th International
Lineman’s Rodeo.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
F
or 2020, T&D World and Utility Products honored the
line trade through a Virtual Celebration Week. This year,
however, linemen and their families came together for
competition and camaraderie at the 2021 International
Lineman’s Rodeo.
“When we started talking about doing the Rodeo in January
of this year, my heart rate jumped up two-fold due to the excite-
ment of seeing the competition and meeting up with friends,”
says Dennis Kerr, co-chairman of the International Lineman’s
Rodeo Association (ILRA). “It is one of the best events of the
year for me.”
By participating in the competition, journeymen linemen
and apprentices can connect with other linemen from around
the country.
“They can watch how they work, learn about other skills they
don’t have and have great camaraderie with people around the
country,” Kerr says.
Due to travel restrictions and other concerns surrounding
the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer linemen and their families
42 T&D World | December 2021
traveled to Kansas City for the 2021 Rodeo Week and inter-
national teams were not able to participate. Even so, Kerr said
the 2021 event helped to bring the line trade back to a sense
of normalcy.
“In 2019, we had 1200 competitors, which was a record, and
this year, we had about half of that,” he says. “When we decided
to do the Rodeo, we didn’t care how many we would get. We were
just interested in doing the Rodeo.”
In the early days, the Lineman’s Rodeo started out with very
few competitors, and over time, it has been growing and growing.
Kerr foresees the same trend happening in the future.
“In 2022, I think we will be right back where we were in 2020,”
Kerr says.
Rick Childers, a retired event coordinator and board mem-
ber for the ILRA, says he returned to the Rodeo to provide
assistance in 2021 after some volunteers dropped out due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a wonderful event, and it’s fantastic to see everyone
back together,” Childers says. “I’ve been with the Rodeo for 30
 RODEO ROUNDUP

years, and other than the numbers,

I think this is going to be one of the
best ones ever.”

Competing as Teams
At the International Lineman’s Rodeo,
journeymen linemen compete in six
different divisions—military, IOU,
muni, REI, contractor and senior.
The journeymen linemen must com-
pete in teams of three, and through
teamwork and dedication, they can
score the highest number of points
during the four events including pole
climb, hurt man rescue and two mys-
tery events.
The pole climb event has been a
traditional part of the International
Lineman’s Rodeo, but in past years, The journeymen linemen competed as teams of three at the 2021 event.
the ILRA bestowed individual awards for the fastest climbers. the event with zero deductions in a time of 0:136:47. The trio of
That was not the case for 2021. According to the ILRA, the award journeymen linemen scaled a 40-ft wood pole and were judged
drives the wrong behavior for climbing poles. for their ability to bring a raw egg in a small bucket safely down
“We are trying to promote safety, and we wanted to make sure to the ground without hot-dogging or free-falling.
that no one gets hurt,” Kerr says. In addition, the journeyman teams competed in a simu-
All of the apprentices and journeymen teams started out with lated energized hurt man rescue event. The teams had to
100 points for each event, and then if they made mistakes, they work together to rescue a person injured while working to
received point deductions. change out a faulty disconnect. Wearing rubber gloves, two
“I tell the competitors that the best thing to do is not have of the linemen climbed the pole while the groundman used
any deductions to have an opportunity to be part of the award an extendo stick to open the switch and lay the mannequin
ceremony,” Kerr says. carefully on the ground. The Jackson EMC team of Jeff Sutton,
For the pole climb event, the journeyman lineman team of Caleb Chapman and Jeremy Adams finished the event in a
Brandon Gloria, David Angove and Kyle Vanderpool completed total time of 01:41:81, topping the competition.

A judge explains the rules to a journeyman team prior to the start of the pole climb event.

December 2021 | T&D World 43

 RODEO ROUNDUP
The journeymen teams competed in two mystery events at the International
Lineman’s Rodeo.
Another tradition at the Lineman’s Rodeo — the mystery
events — were back in full force at the 2021 competition. While
the linemen can practice their skills for the pole climb and hurt
man rescue back at home, they don’t know the full event descrip-
tion and rules for the mystery events until they arrive in Kansas
City for Rodeo Week.
Hastings sponsored the Journeyman Mystery Event #1, which
involved an obstacle course for the journeymen linemen teams.
The linemen had to climb a pole and perform a function at each
cross-arm per the event guidelines. Two of the linemen worked
together on the pole while the groundman focused on using a
telescopic stick to open the cutout and performing other duties.
Russell Smith, Casey Slater and Brian Wheeler from the Hotline
Construction/Team Dry Canyon team from Ventura, California,
finished the event more than 45 seconds ahead of the next team,
To be the best of the best in the journeyman division, the teams had to learn to
work together.
44 T&D World | December 2021
capturing first place in the event. Smith says he has been to the
International Lineman’s Rodeo several times.
“We love coming every year,” Smith says. “It’s an awesome ex-
perience to be a part of it and see everyone throughout the years.
We are just here to have a good time.”
For the Journeyman Mystery Event #2, the team replaced two
insulators and steel pins using PLP #2 Pre-form Tie with grom-
mets on a 10-ft Brooks braceless crossarm using rubber gloves
and AB Chance hot sticks. The Duke Energy team of Jay Tipton,
Keith Griffin and Sandy Barnhill won the event with a time of
16:12:84. This team also won the “Best of the Best” in the jour-
neyman division with a total of 398 event points, two deductions
and a time of 35:46:22.
Spotlight on Apprentices
In the apprentice division at the International Lineman’s Rodeo,
182 apprentices competed in the hurt man rescue, pole climb, and
two mystery events. In addition, they had to complete a written test
the day before the competition at the Overland Park Convention
Center. Aaron Sabato of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), who was
crowned as the “best of the best” in the apprentice division, won
the written test event with 88 points.
As he and the other competitors from PG&E participated
in the Lineman’s Rodeo, a support team was on the sidelines
cheering them on. Ahmad Ababneh, vice president of major
projects and programs for electric operations for PG&E, says
his company sent three journeymen linemen teams from PG&E,
one from Local IBEW 1245 and seven apprentices to participate
in the competition.
“What does it mean for PG&E and trying to get back, espe-
cially after the cancellation last year?” he says. “We are excited
to be here and for our team and everyone else who represents
our industry. It’s a great event for all of us coming together and
representing what we do every day, which is keeping the lights
on and serving our customers and communities. Teams can ex-
change best practices, and linemen can learn from each other.
I’m looking forward to having a safe event.”
Alex Benoit, an apprentice for National Grid, came in sec-
ond place in the apprentice division at the 2021 International
Lineman’s Rodeo. He participated in the competition two years
ago and was glad to return to the Rodeo.
“I am happy to be back,” Benoit says. “It’s a great time meeting
all these people, seeing the tools in the trade, being safe and
having fun doing what we do.”
Ted Ghyra, an apprentice for Omaha Public Power District,
climbed to the top in three categories in the apprentice divi-
sion—pole climb, mystery event #1 and mystery event #2. Ghyra,
who is topping out in November 2021, plans to compete on the
journeyman team next year.
“I was very happy with my performance,” Ghyra says. “Everything
was going right for me that day.”
At the awards ceremony following the Rodeo, Ghyra earned
five award plaques from the ILRA.
“Walking across the stage is always an awesome experience,
and it’s a feeling that never gets old,” he says. “What I like most
about the rodeo is visiting and competing with some of the best
linemen in the world.”

He says he wanted to thank everyone who made the
International Lineman’s Rodeo possible this year.
“Last year was very disappointing not being able to compete,
however, I’m glad they brought it back this year,” he says. “I’d also
like to thank the guys who helped me to prepare for the Rodeo.”
During the Rodeo, the apprentices participated in a rope splice
competition in a tent on the Rodeo grounds. By climbing poles
and practicing putting on his tools a few times a week leading
up to the Rodeo, Ghyra was able to prepare for the hurt man
rescue and pole climb. Because the mystery events were a mystery
until he arrived, he just focused on best practices and his skills
during the competition.
“I’ve learned to pay attention to the little details in the events,
because if you do those right, it will save you a lot of time,” he says.
Line Families Unite
When linemen earn the opportunity to compete at the
International Lineman’s Rodeo, they often bring their families
along with them to watch them compete. As they scaled the poles
and competed in the event, their line families bundled up on the
sidelines in blankets and coats in the chilly start to the Rodeo.
Then as the sunshine spilled over the Rodeo grounds, the
children headed over to the Kid Zone, where they could jump
on inflatables, ride a small train and eat treats like cotton candy.
Families also were able to visit the exhibitors’ booths on the
Rodeo grounds, ride a bucket truck 80 ft in the air to gain an
aerial view of the competition and gather in their companies’
tents surrounding the event areas.
RODEO ROUNDUP
As her husband, Tom Swayne, prepared to compete at the
International Lineman’s Rodeo for the DTE journeyman team,
Lynne was on the sidelines supporting him. Swayne and his team-
mates, John Appleberg and Keith Wilder, finished first in the
seniors division at the 2021 International Lineman’s Rodeo.
“I’ve been married to a lineman for 35 years, and as a line-
man’s wife, I am the power behind the power,” she says. “I am the
one that had to keep the kids quiet and the house going while
he was working storms, traveling for hurricanes and following
storms around the United States. I wouldn’t have it any other
way. I have a lineman family, and it has been a fantastic life, and
I am so proud of these guys.”
Dale Warman of the ILRA says he was excited to see all the
linemen and their families back in Kansas City for the 2021
Lineman’s Rodeo Week.
“My heart is full of joy to see all of these people come here,”
he says. “They are smiling and happy, and it’s like everyone is
coming out of a cloud. That’s what it is all about. This Rodeo is
for the linemen and their families to reward them for what they
have done. They have had a bad year, but now they are coming
out. We are so lucky to be able to do that. We appreciate everyone
who put in time to make it happen.”
Editor’s Note: To see a photo gallery and video highlights
from the 2021 safety conference, visit the T&D WORLD Web site at
www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations.
AMY FISCHBACH (amyfischbach@gmail.com) is the Field Editor for T&D World
magazine.
December 2021 | T&D World 45
 RODEO ROUNDUP
Exploring the Expo
Linemen discovered new tools and technologies on
the sold-out show floor at the 2021 International
Lineman’s Expo.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
W
hile linemen can learn about new products in the line
trade through virtual events and online resources,
live trade shows allow them to meet with manufactur-
ers in person and check out products fresh on the
market. After taking a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
the International Lineman’s Rodeo Association (ILRA) executed
a full Lineman’s Rodeo Week complete with the safety confer-
ence, Expo, Trade Night and Lineman’s BBQ and competition.
“We felt like we needed to be back and have the event again,
and we didn’t want to take two years off,” says Mike Hayward an
ILRA board member. “We are trending 50 percent of a normal
Rodeo, and we are full on our Expo floor. We are happy to
have the linemen back at the Expo, and the vendors are happy
that they are back face-to-face with the linemen throughout the
United States.”
Exhibitors showcased everything from boots to workwear to safeguard line-
men and keep them warm and comfortable in the field.
46 T&D World | December 2021
Linemen and their families lined up outside the exhibit
hall at the Overland Park Convention Center for the 2021
International Lineman’s Expo.
Experiencing Growth
A total of 164 exhibitors showcased new products and technolo-
gies at the Lineman’s Expo Oct. 14 and 15, 2021, at the Overland
Park Convention Center.
“We used to have a handful of aisles, and now we have eight
aisles with exhibitors on each side,” says Dennis Kerr, co-chairman
of the ILRA. “The Expo is completely sold out. We have had many
vendors come back from previous years, and they are excited
about being here. The first-time vendors think it’s the greatest
thing. There is such a variety of companies out here as part of
the Expo, and there’s exciting and neat stuff to learn.”
At the Expo, exhibitors can talk one-on-one with the end users
— the linemen — about what they like and don’t like about their
products. The linemen can also go back to their field managers,
executives and tool committees to tell them what new innovations
they’ve discovered at the Lineman’s Expo.
“It is a very important event, and people from all over the
country are always interested in attending it,” Kerr says. “We
have a full house of vendors that have all the latest and greatest
equipment on the floor.”
Showcasing New Products
The Lineman’s Expo featured diverse products from fall pro-
tection to personal protective equipment (PPE) to power tools.
For example, Huskie Tool launched a new line of tools with in-
terchangeable heads for cutting and crimping. Utility Solutions
also showcased its Take-Apart Hot Stick.
Also, manufacturers of flame-retardant clothing displayed
work shirts, jackets, sweatshirts and hoodies to provide not only
warmth, but also protection. Unlike as in years past, the clothing
is often more lightweight and breathable. Companies are also
coming out with designs that are not just a smaller size, but a
different silhouette for women in the line trade.
Carhartt showcased several types of clothing including its FR,
high-vis raingear, which is heavy-duty and can last five to 10 years.
In addition, Wrangler exhibited at the Rodeo to showcase its FR
clothing designed for the field workforce.
“We are trying to do a grassroots marketing effort to get our
brand awareness out to the wearers, and there’s no place bet-
ter to go than the Lineman’s Rodeo,” says Paul Noto, sales for
Wrangler. “They are our target audience. Having them come
here and know that we are in the business and have solutions
for them is what it’s all about. These last two days have been
wonderful for us.”
 RODEO ROUNDUP

Training Linemen
Exhibitors not only showcased products to improve line-
men’s safety, but also boost their level of education and train-
ing. Caleb Thompson from Timpson Training says he gave
15 demonstrations of his training system for the linemen
attendees in one day.
“When linemen get out into the real world, their hair can
stand up and the panic can set in,” Thompson says. “Our system
continuously monitors the voltage on the lines so anything over
a certain voltage will trip the unit. It creates a more realistic
training environment.”
At the event, line schools also exhibited to raise awareness
about the training programs that are available. For example, the
Elite Lineman Training Institute, which started two-and-a-half
years ago, offers four 11-week programs annually in Georgia. The
programs are designed to “not just get them through,” but make
them a better lineman, according to the company.
Utilities, which are looking to hire more linemen, also exhib-
ited on the show floor, not to recruit on site, but rather to spread
awareness about their companies. For example, Tim Jones from
Evergy was at the Expo talking to the attendees.
“It’s great to be back this year,” Jones says.
Christopher Hedges, who has been a supporter of the Rodeo
since it first began, traveled to the convention center for the
Lineman’s Expo. He was looking for new technologies for his
electrical contracting firm in Kansas City.
“I enjoy seeing old friends and learning about new products, but International Lineman’s Expo attendees could try out new tools and technolo-
the best thing is the people,” he says. “That’s what we come for.” gies on the show floor.

December 2021 | T&D World 47

 RODEO ROUNDUP
Honoring the Top Tool of the Trade
T&D World and Utility Products celebrated the 2021 category winners and awarded a trophy to
MADI Innovative Lineman Tools.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
The 2021 Top Tool of the Trade, which was invented by Aaron Shropshire, a
West Virginia lineman, can be used used as a jack/stiff leg pad or pole cradle.
F
or the last five years, T&D World has honored product
excellence in the electric utility industry through its Top
Tools of the Trade program. Now in partnership with Utility
Products, the competition results in a winner in each of five
categories: Lineman Tools, Safety, Climbing Gear, Workwear
and Truck Equipment.
After the expert judges selected the category winners, the 2021
Lineman’s Expo attendees and the “Lineman Life” enewsletter
subscribers voted for the Top Tool of the Trade. The Endeavor
Business Media team honored the category winners with special
signs in each of their Expo booths and then awarded plaques to
each category winner at the Rodeo Barbecue and Trade Night.
The presenters also gave the winner — MADI Innovative Lineman
Tools — a crystal trophy for its Pole Cradle and Outrigger Pad,
which is said to be multifunctional and great for training.
“MADI continues to identify and innovate new ways to provide
linemen with safer and more efficient tools,” says Wayne Morris,
vice president of MADI LLC. “Aaron Shropshire’s idea brought
to life by MADI is a terrific example of our commitment to line-
men worldwide. We are extremely honored to receive this award
because it is recognized and voted by linemen.”
Solving a Long-Time Problem
Shropshire, a lineman from West Virginia, brought the idea for
the winning product to MADI and was instrumental in its de-
velopment. The inspiration behind the tool was the need for a
pole cradle that was compact enough to be stored in a convenient
manner while retaining the strength and functionality of existing
48 T&D World | December 2021
single use cradles. Other pole cradles are bulky, hard to store,
hard to retrieve, and only perform one function.
“Storing them usually consists of flinging them into the bed
or belly of a derrick, where they take up already limited cargo
space,” says Ralph Stinson, a lineman and the founder of MADI.
“They are difficult to retrieve especially when behind loaded
material such as wire reels or transformers.”
The MADI Pole Cradle and Pad, however, solves this problem
by making a cradle that fits right in existing pad storage locations
on the sides of trucks and close to the ground, while having the
added functionality of a stiff leg pad. The MADI Pole Cradle
and Pad is a cradle for poles and a jack pad/stiff leg pad all in
one tool. This dual functionality innovation not only stabilizes
the equipment as a pad, but also allows crews to frame a pole
while on the ground, therefore eliminating the risk of falling
tools while in air framing.
The product is constructed of stainless steel for corrosion re-
sistance and fiberglass-reinforced nylon for strength and weight
reduction. It can support up to 12,000 lbs. as a cradle and is equiva-
lent in thickness and size to existing pads made of crossarms.
“The MADI Pole Cradle and Pad allows a crew to frame a pole
together while the derrick truck is digging and will normally
be finished before the hole is complete,” Stinson says. “It cuts
down on the duration of the job, keeps a lineman’s time in gloves
and sleeves to a minimum, while preventing the likelihood of
dropped objects.”
The safety aspect of ground framing is underappreciated, he
added. “Keeping a lineman out of gloves and sleeves on hot and
cold days drastically reduces exposure to the elements prevent-
ing frostbite, heat exhaustion, and other environmental-related
events,” he says.
Improving Safety in the Field
MADI constructed the initial prototypes from solid nylon, which
was machined and assembled to be use tested. Further modi-
fications were performed to reduce weight while keeping the
strength-to-weight ratios intact, which resulted in the I-beam
type design shown in the finished product. The final product is
now made by a plastic injection molded procedure.
By using the MADI Pole Cradle and Pad, the crew can spin
the pole to drill and frame all 360 degrees. In addition, all crew
members can help frame vs. just those in the bucket. “The product
has been very well received by linemen as well as safety supervi-
sors and utility management,” Morris says. “They recognize the
safety of framing poles on the ground and love dual functionality
plus the simplicity of storage.”
 TOP TOOLS OF THE TRADE
working. It may
Safety Category Winner also be used
The Twistarp is a flat lifting as an outrigger
sling available in a 6 ft by 6 pad to stabilize
ft, 7 ft by 7 ft, 8 ft by 8 ft and bucket trucks.
10 ft by 10 ft sizes to fit your The pole may
needs and protect linemen be spun to drill
on the job. Developed by a and frame all 360
veteran lineman, it reduces deg. It allows for
the need for physically ground framing
demanding efforts, making reducing the
utility work faster, safer, risk from falling
and cleaner. Each Twistarp tools. It enables all crew members to learn and help frame versus
reduces backbreaking work, just those in the bucket. Constructed of fiberglass reinforced nylon
meaning fewer muscle for weight reduction and maximum durability, it has a weighted
strains, sprains, and other rating of up to 12,000 lbs. The product easily stores in the standard
injuries. It also saves time outrigger pad rack, and a rope handle allows for quick set ups and
filling in around poles, easy transportation.
which can then be spent installing new utilities and maintaining MADI Innovative Lineman Tools | www.madilinemantools.com
existing ones. Additionally, the Twistarp can be used as a dirt
sling to cleanly and safely transport worksite waste, improving
relationships with customers by keeping their properties clean. The Climbing Gear Category Winner
Twistarp has been independent load tested and certified. It’s made This climbing gear is designed and tested specifically for the
in the USA and built as tough as the linemen that use it. A single big man. Buckingham Manufacturing’s 400 lb. rated climbing
Twistarp is guaranteed to save you money on a continuing basis gear is said to be the first of its
and costs less than the hourly rate for two men and one line truck. kind and is offered in a variety of
Twistarp | www.twistarp.com configurations and kits. These
kits feature all the basic fall
protection products a climber
Lineman Tools Category Winner will need while working on a pole
The M18 FUEL 1⁄2-in. Mid-Torque Impact Wrench packs up to 650 and has been tested and rated up
ft- lbs of torque while weighing in at only 5.1 lbs. These impacts to a 400 lb. user weight capacity.
are said to offer the best power-to-weight ratio in their class for the It ensures that every person on a
most access in tight crew can climb a pole, even the
spaces and faster bolt big men. Must be used and
removal. While up to 3 purchased as a kit to be rated
lbs lighter than other to 400 lbs. All variations of these
high torque impact 400 lb. kits include the patented Adjustable Short Back Belt, which
wrenches, these offers an adjustable man-rated upper belt strap and an adjustable
mid-torque impact lower work positioning D- piece that allows the user to customize
wrenches are equipped the size of the body belt at any given moment.
with a POWERSTATE Buckingham Manufacturing | www.buckinghammfg.com
Brushless motor that
generates the torque
and speed needed
Workwear Category Winner
to perform many of Lakeland’s High Performance Button up
the same tasks, such knit shirt features lightweight knit fabric
as removing large bolts or lug nuts. Performing to tackle over offering permanent moisture-wicking
90 percent of fastening applications, they can easily access technology. This is said to be
stubborn fasteners in spaces where larger impact wrenches can’t the optimal blend for superior
fit. REDLINK PLUS Intelligence ensures maximum performance performance and protection
and protects the tools against overloads, overheating and and comfort and one of the
over-discharge. The four-mode DRIVE CONTROL offers greater lightest weight fabrics in
precision with a range of pre-set RPM and IPM levels, selectable the market offering 16 cal
from a single button on the tool. By selecting Mode 4 when the tool protection, which is the
is in forward, AUTO SHUT-OFFTM control applies no more than highest cal rating shirt in
35 ft-lbs of torque for hand- tight fastening applications to prevent market. The colors are
overtightening. Tri-LEDS deliver brighter light with less shadows for Heather Grey, Khaki and
increased visibility in confined and low- light workspaces. Hi-Vis. The fabric is 6.9-oz
Milwaukee Tool | www.milwaukeetool.com lightweight knit and inherently
FR. It offers permanent
moisture-wicking and works
Truck Equipment Category Winner as a mid-layer option. The shirt features a
The MADI Pole Cradle and Outrigger Pad offers two tools in button-down collar, two chest pockets, an athletic cut and
one convenient product. Its primary purpose is to be deployed a tag-free color for more comfort.
as a pole cradle to help frame poles and keep your whole crew Lakeland | www.lakeland.com

December 2021 | T&D World 49

 PRODUCTS & SERVICES
power to operate the
equipment. Terex
Hot Line Tool Utilities has exclusively
partnered with South
Carolina-based Viatec,
an expert in plug-and-
play electronic PTO
systems to develop
solutions optimized
for Terex products.
The system functions
as an ePTO to power
Hastings Hot Line Tools and Equipment designed the Tel-O-Pole the primary unit and
II with safety in mind. The unique triangular and “no twist” design auxiliary functions as
of the heavy duty Tel-O-Pole II enables each section to lock in well as directly powering
automatically. With no need to look for the button, lineworkers can lights and the optional integrated cab A/C using factory vents and
open and close disconnect switches, replace fuses on transformers, controls. The Viatec SmartPTO is largely self-contained and can be
and prune trees with peace of mind. The pole’s ergonomic design installed on most equipment and chassis. The SmartPTO lowers the
allows the lineworker a better grip and better control. Sections can cost of engine-related expenses of a Terex aerial or digger derrick by
be removed or added to reach the desired pole length as well. reducing fuel costs and wear and tear on the engine due to idling.
Hastings | www.hfgp.com Overall troubleshooting and repair costs are also reduced thanks to
the on-board diagnostics and telematics capabilities. The system is
maintenance-free due to the brushless permanent magnet motor,
Simulation Software Lithium NMC batteries, and absence of internal service parts.
Terex Utilities | www.terex.com

Network Planning Software

CM Labs Simulations, developer of Vortex training simulators,
has released an integration with the Trimble Earthworks Grade
Control Platform on the Excavator Simulator. This collaboration
provides training for Trimble’s grade-control solution that has gained
widespread adoption. Trimble Earthworks for Excavators software
works in parallel with CM Labs’ patented software and runs on
a tablet, which the user can connect to the simulator. Using the
simulator, visual aids are overlaid onto the existing ground along
with cut/fill information, slope data and other customizable reference
points to provide the user with a better understanding of the work
that needs to be done. A variety of configurable views makes it
easier to obtain the right perspective for maximum training value.
Trimble Earthworks, combined with CM Labs’ machine realism,
builds skills that transfer directly to the worksite, and teaches
operators of all experience levels how to work more efficiently.
Trimble Earthworks is now available as an add-on with CM Labs’
Excavator Training Pack and will be expanded to other earth-
moving modules. The software is compatible with all of CM Labs’
Vortex Simulators, including the desktop Vortex Edge Plus, the
motion-enabled Vortex Edge Max, and the high-immersion Vortex
Advantage.
CM Labs | https://cm-labs.com
Hybrid Power Solution for Diggers
Terex Utilities has introduced the HyPower SmartPTO for a variety
of Hi-Ranger telescopic, overcenter, and non-overcenter aerial
devices and Commander and General digger derricks. This simple
and reliable product reduces idling, increases fuel savings, and
minimizes noise and air pollution by utilizing stored plug in electric
The future of energy systems is highly interdependent and
exceptionally complex. Every utility, network operator and
government not
only needs to
understand the
interdependencies of
different networks, but
also how to leverage
them to achieve the
energy transition.
But, modelling the
interdependencies
of coupled energy
networks has been,
to date, nearly
impossible. SAInt by encoord is a comprehensive energy network
planning software that models the integration and coordination of
coupled networks to optimize and accelerate the path to a fully
decarbonized energy system all in one platform. In times past,
modelers would need to iterate between different modelling tools
to understand the different options available. In a single platform,
SAInt can model electricity networks to quantify their synergies and
interdependencies, enabling increased integration of renewable
energy sources and hydrogen. The result is detailed insights that
give stakeholders the confidence to make better energy network
investment decisions to achieve net zero. Intuitive to use, with a
modern user interface, SAInt is customizable and offers a flexible API
to support its users in seamlessly integrating the tool with existing
software and databases, streamlining the ability to interrogate
the outputs from their models and use custom visualisations and
animations. SAInt also integrates with wind and solar meteorological
datasets to support robust modelling of renewable energy
generation.
encoord | www.encoord.com
PD Measurement and Analysis
The MPD 800 universal partial discharge (PD) measurement and
analysis system from OMICRON represents the third generation

50 T&D World | December 2021


of the company’s MPD PD
testing technology, which
is based on 20 years
of field experience
and continuous
development to meet
evolving customer
requirements.
Established MPD
hardware and software features have been enhanced, and new
time-saving functionality has been added to make the MPD 800
a complete, intuitive, and flexible solution available for standard-
compliant PD testing in a broad range of applications. The MPD
800 system performs IEC and IEEE standard-compliant PD
measurements and analysis for routine and type testing, factory
and site acceptance testing (commissioning), as well as repair
testing and troubleshooting in the field. With high measurement
accuracy, the MPD 800 system enables users to reliably detect,
localize and assess the risk of potentially failure-causing PD activity
in the insulation of various electrical assets and components. These
include power transformers, rotating electrical machines (motors
and generators), power cables, switchgear, and industrial drives,
as well as bushings, insulators, capacitors, and busbars. The MPD
800 measurement device includes two input channels for either
synchronous, two-channel PD measurements or a single-channel
PD measurement plus a gating channel to reduce surrounding
interference without the need for an additional device. Users
can define individual test specifications, including calibration and
measurement settings, based on applicable international standards
for specific types of PD tests and test objects and save them as
profiles for continued use and greater efficiency.
OMICRON | www.omicronenergy.com
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Eco-Efficient Transformers
Hitachi Energy has introduced EconiQ transformers. EconiQ
transformers contribute environmental value in the areas of
decarbonization, enhanced safety, protection of ecosystems
and responsible use of resources across the transformer’s
life-cycle. The transformers will be tailored based on specific
customer sustainability requirements and using proven scientific
methodologies, such as environmental Life Cycle Analysis. The
EconiQ transformers have been developed using eco-design
principles to maximize sustainability over the life-cycle. Within the
designs, key aspects are further optimized such as enhanced energy
efficiency and the responsible use of materials through processes
such as recycling and waste disposal. The use of biodegradable
insulation fluids with higher flash and fire points helps to safeguard
surrounding ecosystems from the risk of pollution and increase
safety for people. In the first phase, the EconiQ transformers
will be available for liquid-filled applications. The transformers
are manufactured using fossil-free electricity in Hitachi Energy’s
factories.
Hitachi Energy | www.hitachienergycom
December 2021 | T&D World 51
SOLUTIONS CENTER BY MAHESH SUDHAKARAN, IBM
Prepare for the EV Era
To ring in this new era, utilities need to start operating as flexible orchestration platforms
and ecosystem enablers.
G
lobal electric vehicle sales are on the rise. In 2020 alone,
electric vehicle (EV) sales rose 43% even as overall car
sales slumped. According to consulting firm AlixPartners,
EVs could represent about 24% of total car sales by 2030
— up from the 2% of sales today. In fact, an IBM consumer survey
found 50% of consumers in five major metro cities currently own
or lease an EV or plan to within the next few years.
This growing trend will put new demand strains on the grid.
According to an Electric Vehicles as Distributed Energy Resources
report by Rocky Mountain Institute, a 30-kWh EV battery stores
as much electricity as the average U.S. residence consumes in a
single day. Too much simultaneous charging in one area poses
a major threat to grid stability — especially since EVs will charge
in more locations than just the home garage — creating a new,
unpredictable surge to accommodate.
The unpredictable nature of EV charging demand comes just
as utilities are evolving how they balance and settle the grid. In
the past, meeting peak demand meant tapping into peaker plants.
These facilities typically are carbon intensive, costly to build and
operate, and drive up the cost of power. Today, nearly 20% of
grid power is generated through wind and solar, according to the
U.S. Energy Information Administration. Moving forward, the
collective goal of individuals, companies and industries should
be to continue to increase that source in the energy mix.
The challenge is renewables such as wind and solar are weather
dependent and, therefore, less predictable. Fossil fuels should
not be leaned on as a crutch anymore. Instead, the solution is
that utilities must operate as flexible orchestration platforms
and ecosystem enablers.
Orchestration Platforms
Operating as an orchestration platform means utilities must
evolve from a forecast-schedule-dispatch model into a real-time
orchestrator of capabilities and ecosystems: Utilities need to bring
Global electric vehicle sales are on the rise. Boumenjapet_Dreamstime.
52 T&D World | December 2021
together a network of resources and ecosystem partners to balance
grid through decentralized, flexible units such as EVs.
That is right: Meeting the demand of EVs also means using them
as a distributed energy resource (DER) and part of the solution.
Based on Harvard University engineering data published in
the Environmental Impact Letters, for the U.S. to reach 100%
of its electricity through solar and wind power projects, it could
require one-third of the country to be covered by solar and wind
facilities. There is no desire nor is it feasible to allocate that much
land to solar and wind farms. Instead, utilities must modernize
the grid to support bidirectionality and tie into ecosystems and
marketplaces to unite residential and commercial solar panels,
EVs and other DERs.
This may sound quite complex, but it becomes feasible by
taking a hybrid cloud approach to unite and manage these vari-
ous resources and ecosystems on a common platform. A hybrid
cloud approach means these disparate resources can run and
operate on a variety of clouds or on premises yet are united to
work together using an orchestration platform. By gaining vis-
ibility into the entire ecosystem, utilities can forecast, aggregate,
optimize and settle across resources, thereby helping to accelerate
achieving carbon reduction goals.
Platform Approach in Action
To meet the EU’s sustainable energy targets, at least half of elec-
tricity needs to come from renewable sources by 2030, compared
to 32% in 2018. To achieve this, TenneT, a leading European
grid operator, worked with IBM to create a blockchain-based
platform that would allow it to tie into other clean energy pro-
viders in the market, such as Vandebron Energie BV and the
sonnenCommunity.
Both Vandebron and sonnen could be viewed as competitors of
TenneT, as they offer clean energy options directly to customers.
Vandebron offers its approximately 100,000 customers access to
100% renewable energy sourced from a
network of more than 120 local, small
suppliers, such as excess supply from
EVs. On the other hand, sonnen GmbH
manufactures and distributes home bat-
tery and energy-storage systems. The
sonnen batteries store energy gener-
ated by home solar panels. Typically,
homeowners use the stored energy from
these batteries to power their homes or
sell the energy back to the electricity
distributor when rates are highest.
Rather than compete, TenneT
worked with IBM to develop a platform
that harnesses the strengths of these
 SOLUTIONS CENTER
power providers together to accelerate the volume of
renewable energy available to meet demand. During peak
demand on the grid, TenneT can tap into its network to
balance the grid or discharge excess to reduce transmis-
sion bottlenecks in the grid. The result is a win-win-win:
TenneT can balance the grid and ensure power, and
Vandebron and sonnen customers can monetize their
energy assets when not in use. In addition, this platform
approach helps to maximize the amount of wind and
solar energy available to meet power demand — a step
in the right direction toward achieving EU sustainable
energy targets.
Building on the success of this platform, TenneT part-
nered with other European transmission grid operators,
including Terna (Italy), Swissgrid (Switzerland) and APG Harvard University engineering data suggests that 1/3 of the U.S. would need to be cov-
(Austria) to form Equigy, a European crowd balancing ered by solar and wind facilities to cover 100% of domestic electricity demand. Instead,
utilities must become orchestration platforms to meet this demand.
platform. Together, these four grid operators and a
network of energy players help to meet demand with a higher
percentage of clean-energy resources while reducing the reli-
ance on fossil fuels during peak demand. In addition, because
this approach is connecting existing assets, existing customer
bases and existing back-end systems, the upfront costs are low.

More Players Involved

Interest is brewing on the part of EV manufacturers and automak-
ers to allow their customers to opt in directly to reduce the total
cost of EV ownership. Equigy and TenneT are working with BMW
Group to interlink vehicles, charging infrastructure and power
grids to maximize the use of renewable energy for EV charging.
City leaders also are getting involved. For example, IBM is
working with the City of Copenhagen to deploy the IBM Utilities
Flex Platform, which also integrates building assets. When the
grid needs balancing as a result of fluctuating renewables or de-
mand peaks, the platform’s artificial intelligence analyzes when
connected assets — like heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
(HVAC) systems, water pumps and data centers — can be op-
timized with little impact on their performance. The platform
orchestrates their energy requirements, in effect providing flex-
ibility to the grid in lieu of relying on reserve power plants.
Up Next
The shift to the utility-as-an-orchestration platform model sets
the foundation for future technologies to further optimize the
rapidly decentralized infrastructure. In September 2021, E.ON SE
announced its plans to work with IBM Quantum to do just that.
Quantum computing is a new type of computing that harnesses
the phenomena of quantum mechanics, which could deliver a
huge leap forward in certain problems are solved. While classi-
cal systems are not going away, quantum computing can solve
complex problems — those that are fundamentally too complex
for classical computers to solve — exploiting a multidimensional
parameter space that can yield exponential outcomes.
For example, as part of E.ON’s Vehicle to Grid (V2G) project,
batteries from EVs are connected to the distribution grid as a
flexible storage medium. In this way, fluctuations in the genera-
tion of renewable energy can be balanced. The coordination
and control of the system require enormous computing power,
Utilities operating as orchestration platforms can help meet the EU’s sustain-
ability energy targets of 50% of electricity coming from renewables by 2030.
of which current classical computing systems are not capable. A
quantum computer has the potential to perform these necessary
calculations in completely different ways that could be done in a
shorter time frame. This kind of innovative technology is key to
advance the energy transition. However, it can only be realized
through the critical foundation of utilities evolving to operate
as orchestration platforms.
MAHESH SUDHAKARAN (sudhakaran@us.ibm.com) is the general manager for IBM’s
Energy, Environment, and Utilities Industry. In this role, he leads a global team focused
on sales, strategy, product management, and partnerships for the industry. His mis-
sion is to support energy and utility companies globally lead in the era of sustainable
energy transition with clean electrification. Sudhakaran has a BS in electrical and
electronics engineering, First Class with Distinction, from the National Institute of Tech-
nology, India, and an MBA, Director’s List, from the University of Cambridge.
For More Information
BMW | www.bmwgroup.com
E.ON | www.eon.com
Equigy | https://equigy.com
sonnen | https://sonnengroup.com
TenneT | www.tennet.eu
Vandebron | https://vandebron.nl

December 2021 | T&D World 53

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As an electrical engineer and Authority @TVAnews SWEPCO employees and
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turbines recorded in the 1930s! as possible
currently to restore
spinning power to 6,100
27-miles off customers in
the coast #EastTexas.
of Virginia. Extremely high
That winds brought
valuable down trees,
data is limbs and
already power lines across the area Thursday
informing afternoon, interrupting power for
the plans for the additional turbines, 16,000 customers.
which will be installed by 2026.
OGE Energy Corp. Bonneville Power @
At OG&E, we believe in investing bonnevillepower
Penelec in the next
As winter approaches, one of the On this day in 1935, engineer Charles
generation Carey first shared his vision for the
most challenging aspects of line work of leaders.
is working in below freezing temps. The Northwest electric grid. At the time
That’s most of the region wasn’t electrified.
rubber safety gloves linemen wear in why we
the field are designed to protect them Carey became BPA’s first engineer and
met with principal construction engineer of the
from electricity, but provide little to no more than
warmth. That’s why short breaks are high voltage grid, turning his vision into
800 high reality.
necessary! school
students
this week
to bring
awareness
to career opportunities at the “Build My
Future OKC” event. We loved meeting
these future leaders!

54 T&D World | December 2021

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STRAIGHT TALK BY BRIAN LUSHER, DUKE ENERGY
Integrated Grid Planning is Critical for Clean Energy
H
istorical grid planning has
been slow. Around 1950, when
electric access was available to
most households, load increased at
a steady rate of 4% for each class
of customers. Over this period, grid
planning involved building and man-
aging large projects, then recovering
those costs through ratepayers. This
model was successful due to the low
risk of a regulated entity that allowed for a low cost of lending for
these infrastructure projects, which resulted in lower costs for
customers. This business model is changing, and the tools used for
planning the future of the electrical grid need to change as well
A 2020 report by Pacific Northwest National Lab states: “Sce-
nario analysis, granular forecasting, and options analysis are be-
coming increasingly important in integrated distribution system
planning... More robust tools are needed that can simulate dis-
tribution systems with multiple devices, such as smart inverters
and energy storage, simultaneously operating autonomously.”
Rapidly changing generation sources, including residential
solar and customer-sited battery storage, are now affecting the
infrastructure requirements to connect those sources. Studies
for offshore wind interconnection locations and small modular
nuclear reactors are being developed and affect transmission
needs. Similarly, rapidly changing loads, whether through EV
adoption and the resulting charging delivery points, time-of-
use rates, or expanding cities, create difficulty in planning for
future needs.
One of the tradeoffs in the field of electric system model-
ing is between fidelity and scalability. Commercial products are
available that can analyze system harmonics on the order of
milliseconds, but may not be scalable to millions of customer
devices. Software on the opposite end of the spectrum may use
annual peak loading on the grid. As evidenced by the Blue Cut
Fire, there is limited foresight to interactions between protec-
tive relaying, distributed generation controls, and battery stor-
age with different operating modes. Before the recent Texas
grid overload, sophisticated modeling would have predicted
the risk of individual generators’ constrained gas supplies
based on previous events like the 2011 cold weather event.
Considering the difficulty of system planning described
above, a single solution is not the correct answer for planning
purposes. However, a specific solution is required when pick-
ing a course of action for construction that may take years to
complete. Grid planners are required to decisively pick a proj-
ect scope to develop. The locational aspect of this generation
and load is critical to capturing the complete requirements,
costs, and implications of any plan.
To achieve net-zero emissions, tools are needed for scenario
analysis that supports communication among all stakeholders,
including emissions estimates from future generation, provid-
ing developers data to calculate return on their investments,
56 T&D World | December 2021
and the equity of rate impacts to all customers on the system.
One of the most comprehensive tools integrating software
developed by multiple vendors is the HELICS project sup-
ported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Offices of Elec-
tricity Delivery and Energy Reliability and Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy. This effort seeks to connect the inputs
and outputs of each modeling tool and serve as a data “tun-
nel” between the platforms for longer-term planning. While
thorough, this still requires specialized modelers in each of
the sub-modeling platforms and will limit its widespread use
across regional stakeholders in the planning process.
Google’s 2020 announcement to move to 24/7 carbon-free
energy at the time of use requires historical and real-time data
of its load on an hourly basis and the energy generation on
that portion of the grid at that hour. In partnership with AES,
Google’s Virginia load will be supported by a yet-to-be-devel-
oped portfolio of renewable and storage technologies, but siz-
ing those systems is supported by models of expected output.
In an additional partnership with Google’s moonshot factory,
X, new computational and virtualization tools are being built
to “plan, build and manage a clean and resilient grid”.
What Is Still Needed
There is a significant amount of innovation in creating new ro-
bust tools and methods, yet more work is needed in developing
integrated, multi-vendor and open solutions to allow for rapid
understanding in the decision-making process. Residential
and commercial solar generators have developed multi-year
forecasts when completing cost-benefit analyses, so policy mak-
ers need to see the impacts of varying net-metering payments
on adoption and load shifting. At the same time, system plan-
ners and grid operators need to make long-term investment
decisions to avoid assets being stranded in the future.
The core issue is that these problems do not rely on a single
discipline, but instead have complex, cross-functional require-
ments. Advanced modeling requires power-flow analysis from
electrical engineering, behavioral customer sensitivities, and
financial inputs to detail the risks to all stakeholders. While
tools exist in each of these areas of study, they lack standard-
ization in calculation methods, import and export capabilities,
and the ability to scale across state lines or regulatory bound-
aries. Standardization of asset information, load intervals
and geographic model data for use across platforms can be
improved.
The Senate Infrastructure Bill has over US$100 billion
planned in grid-related investments. Getting to a net-zero grid
quickly in a cost-efficient manner will require significant plan-
ning, investment, and innovation with all stakeholders. In a
field where consensus is hard to reach, we can agree on the
importance of faster, reliable, and accurate forecasting for a
changing system.
BRIAN LUSHER is a project manager at Duke Energy.