Amidst the dynamic atmosphere of the DISTRIBUTECH 2024 conference, a focal point for industry influencers shaping the future of energy, Jesse Koskela and his ABB colleagues stood out as key contributors in the discourse on groundbreaking innovations in grid technology. Showcasing ABB's initiatives to transform grid infrastructure, Koskela shared the latest advancements in technology and collaborative solutions that grid operators can integrate into their operational environments today.
Koskela provided Energy Central with a personal walkthrough of ABB’s advanced, digital substation technologies to shed light on the company’s innovative approach to grid modernization and its implications for the future of energy distribution. From hardware-defined to software-defined architectures, Koskela's vision offers a glimpse into the transformative potential of collaboration and innovation in shaping a more sustainable energy landscape.
Taking Stock of a Transitioning Power Sector
Reflecting on recent trends in the power sector, Koskela highlighted a few key drivers. First, the global push for green energy by governments has led to a rush of new renewable energy on the grid. Of course, this move to clean energy is intentional and helps to reach decarbonization goals, but it also leads to new challenges for the grid “Governments are providing tremendous push towards green energy transition,” Koskela noted. “This addition of renewable energy is creating a new challenge for the utilities, particularly in managing a grid with bidirectional energy flow.”
Simultaneously, the industry is propelling the grid towards greater intelligence, unlocking possibilities for enhanced flexibility, resilience, and optimization. “You need a better way to manage and protect assets and the grid in this new environment,” noted Koskela, as he demonstrated ABB’s centralized protection and control system that offers scalable and flexible solutions for protecting assets and managing grid operation. ABB sees substations as an ideal node for creating intelligent edge solutions in order to manage the integration of renewable energy into the grid more efficiently.
Koskela highlighted, of course, that the collaborative success shown by the substation they were demonstrating on the DISTRIBUTECH floor represents a technology already put into practice, bringing with it key lessons learned that he was eager to share with fellow conference-goers.
ABB at DISTRIBUTECH 2024
Key Strategies to Ensure Transitions Are Successful
First and foremost, Koskela was excited to discuss ABB’s collaborative partnerships via the vPAC (Virtual Protection, Automation, and Control) Alliance. This alliance brings together expertise from different companies who appreciate the value of bringing their brightest ideas together in collaboration, with a shared goal to revolutionize substation technologies.
In the vPAC infrastructure, Jesse emphasized how ABB brings the protection and control aspect to the whole service that also features technology from Dell, Advantech, Intel, Moxa, and more.
Simultaneously, ABB leadership is ensuring these solutions are being developed, tested, and deployed in the right way:
Interoperability and Standards: ABB's solution complies with global standards such as IEC 61850, enabling interoperability with various vendors' equipment. While this standard is more widely adopted in Europe, it is becoming more prevalent in North America.
Testing and Validation: ABB emphasizes the importance of rigorous testing and validation processes to ensure the reliability and performance of the solution. Due to the real-time and deterministic nature of protection and control, ABB carefully validates the interaction between all elements of the system for real-time performance.
Customer Education and Engagement: ABB engages with utilities' innovation teams and emphasizes the importance of building cross-functional teams to drive adoption. Customer education and engagement are critical for overcoming resistance to change and facilitating the transition to new technologies.
Speaking of interoperability and flexibility, Koskela demonstrated the ease with which different components could be readily removed and replaced, highlighting that the goal is to create a more secure, flexible environment.
"With this flexibility, your system will work with any merging unit, as long as it complies with the standard. So, the solution is even more interoperable than what has previously been seen on the market." – Jesse Koskela
Koskela also recognized that this entire effort is not an overnight implementation, especially when it comes to guiding utilities on how and where to integrate the smart, collaborative substation. “It is a journey. You have to understand the technology and how to utilize it in the optimal way. Utilities should be having internal discussions about it and get a thorough understanding from within their company.”
Koskela Demonstrating the Modular Nature of the Digital Substation
Future-Proofing the Grid
Given the immense lift that this type of transformation represents, Koskela and his peers at ABB are not interested in a one-time solution that will need replacement in a few years when technology trends evolve. Instead, resilience and future-proofing are core principles of this engaagement. Specifically, the software-defined architecture of ABB's solution aims to future-proof the grid by providing greater flexibility, adaptability, and updatability to evolving energy needs. This approach enhances the systemic resilience of the grid, crucial for accommodating the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources.
"What determines change, and the pace of change, of the grid is its systemic resilience. So, what we’re aiming to solve for is the future-proofing of the protection and control of the substation." – Jesse Koskela
A key strategy to ensure future-proofing is in the use of software-defined architecture. This approach allows for greater flexibility and adaptability compared with traditional hardware-based systems, while also enabling easier integration of new functionalities and reducing the need for extensive hardware modifications. "Everything is software-defined, so it’s much more flexible” confirmed Koskela. “You just add software, then you add a merging unit at the bay, and you're good to go!"
Next Steps for the Collaborative Utility Sector
As we peer into the horizon of the energy landscape, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the future is brimming with promise and possibility. With leaders like Jesse Koskela at the forefront of innovation, pioneering solutions are not merely concepts confined to the realm of imagination; they are tangible realities, poised to reshape the fabric of our energy infrastructure.
With DISTRIBUTECH 2024 now in the books, the sector aims to take those critical conversations, demonstrations, and lessons learned to put into action the next generation of technology. In the utility-wide quest for a smarter, more agile grid that allows us to ramp up clean energy, stay cybersecure, and prioritize resilience, sharing knowledge is such a critical step.
Knowledge is the beacon guiding our path forward. It beckons us to delve deeper, to question, to learn, and to innovate. And as we do so, let us seize the boundless opportunities that lie ahead, forging a brighter, more resilient future for generations to come. As Koskela noted towards the end of Energy Central’s time with him:
“We're at the forefront of innovation, ready to help utilities navigate the evolving landscape of the energy industry. It's not just about solving today's challenges; it's about future-proofing the grid for tomorrow's needs.” – Jesse Koskela
For more information on the Centralized Protection and Control System discussed in this interview, follow this link.