Ormazabal supplies Avangrid's first prefabricated substation. A compact, automated, and fully tested solution.

The compact substation project involves the integration of a prefabricated concrete enclosure with fully automated CGM.3 and CGM.800 switchgear, which complies with ANSI/IEEE regulations for all installed equipment. The project was designed and developed in conjunction with the LaBella engineering group, and the equipment integration was carried out at Ormazabal’s prefabricated center factory in Spain.

This is the first compact substation supplied to a US customer. It includes our concrete enclosures with integrated switchgear, protection, and automation equipment. Tested using plug & play technology.

This is a new line of business. We hope to supply this new range of products to this customer in the coming years, allowing us to pursue similar projects with other customers.

The solution is fully compliant with IEEE standards, which are completely different from IEC standards (the most common in Europe). The solution is supplied to the customer fully integrated and factory-tested. Once delivered to site, it can be placed directly in its final location, minimizing the need for additional on-site work. The power cables can be connected, and it’s ready to operate.

This project provides Avangrid, with whom we have a long-standing relationship, with another tool to develop its smart grid, while allowing us to expand the solutions we can provide. It’s a win-win collaboration.

With this pilot project, Avangrid will be able to accelerate its project delivery capabilities and will allow them to improve the security, reliability, and maintainability of their network. It has also allowed them to verify the viability of the solutions.

We hope to develop an agreement based on this first project. The collaboration between the US Region’s technical department and the factories has been key. The effort put into developing this challenging project has been enormous.

The successful execution of the project would not have been possible without the collaboration of Ormazabal together with a local and reference Engineering firm such as LaBella Associates DPC.

“We are very pleased to launch the Station 208 modernization project, which will increase reliability for the approximately 700 customers, said Mike Craven, Vice President of Electrical Operations at RG&E – “We take our responsibility to provide our customers with safe and reliable service very seriously and continually evaluate our system. Station 208 was identified for upgrades because some of its current equipment dates back to the 1950s.”

cgm.3 – 34.5 kV – 600 A / cgm.800 – 12.5 kV – 800 A with IEEE marking   SEL Protection and Automation IEDs. Communications implemented in IEC61850 protocol. Arteche x/5 A measurement VTs and CTs Enclosures with HVAC and heating systems, AC and DC switchboards and circuits and auxiliary services in all buildings: Backup battery system 200 Ah AEGPS

“When evaluating and planning a project, we always look for the best solution for our customers,” said Craven.“The prefabricated indoor substation is cost-effective and ensures the substation upgrade is as soon as possible for our customers. We expect to increasingly use this “plug and play” technology across all our service areas where appropriate.”

Ormazabal Solution

This solution encompasses three enclosures in total: a 34.5 kV power plant (cgm.3 switchgear), a 12.5 kV power plant (cgm.800 switchgear), and a control center. These enclosures protect the high and low voltage sides of a 14 MVA plant, which supplies electricity to 600 customers. Both power plants include the necessary switchgear, protection and automation relays from SEL, and CT/VT metering equipment from Arteche. The enclosures are self-contained, meaning they are factory-prepared to withstand varying environmental conditions, and therefore include HVAC and heaters to control the ambient temperature. The control center includes a battery and charger system to power the substation in the event of an emergency. It also includes the terminal unit remote control in a SCADA cabinet for automation control, as well as local control of the substation using a computerized HMI unit.

Ormazabal Challenge

It was a challenge to meet all of the client’s specifications. Our purchasing platform had to be expanded to source products from new suppliers that met these standards. In addition, the prefabricated enclosures are completely different from the standards our Uniblok factory is used to integrating.

This project demonstrates Ormazabal’s ability to customize and integrate our products, providing unique solutions for our clients.

This Compact Substation will allow our client to streamline the construction phase of projects, as well as effectively address the automation process of its network, this being its main challenge.

Therefore, the Compact Substation solution allows our client to reduce execution times through:

• Complete integration of all substation equipment
• Testing complete solutions before leaving the factory. Savings in costs and time on site.
• Minimal civil works required to install the foundations of the buildings, just a simple concreted sand base. The buildings are unloaded directly from the delivery truck to their final position.
• It allows the client to streamline the process of automating their network. This solution is fully automated and remotely controlled.
• The buildings are safe and comply with regulations to protect operators against any internal arc faults that may occur inside.
• This project provides Avangrid with another tool for the development of its smart grid, which will improve the safety, reliability, and maintenance of its network through remote control of substations.

Main benefits for the client

• Streamlined project execution. On-site delivery of a complete, tested solution with minimal civil works.
• Automation of the network, improving the safety, reliability and maintenance of substations.