Siemens builds Protection Automation and Control Laboratory for Power Grid Corporation of India Limited

Siemens Limited has set up the Protection Automation and Control Laboratory, an integral part of POWERGRID Advanced Research and Technology Centre (PARTeC) for Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (POWERGRID). The laboratory located in Manesar, Haryana is the first of its kind in India.The project was implemented meeting critical time schedules.

The laboratory has been designed to be used for advanced studies and research on digital substation technologies, multivendor interoperability studies, conformance tests of servers, clients and engineering tools, cyber security-related vulnerabilities and patch management activities, network optimization tests and studies, training and competency building.

Robert Demann, Head, Smart Infrastructure, Siemens Limited, said, “The addition of the Protection Automation and Control Laboratory expands the spectrum of research and technology development that the PARTeC is capable of. This is a key milestone in India’s journey toward reliable power and widespread installation of digital substations. Together, Siemens and POWERGRID are envisioning the future of energy in India, especially for the power transmission landscape.”​

The laboratory has a robust test bed to facilitate detailed studies on new transmission technologies. Siemens supplied various digital substation technologies, including process bus and cyber securitycompliant Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), simulation tools, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850-10 IED conformance tool and the latest communication and networking equipment. Siemens was also involved in engineering, installation, testing and training.

Digital substation implementation by POWERGRID is one of the drivers in the digitalization revolution which will make the grid more smart, efficient and reliable. This lab will focus on research in various facets of digital substations such as design optimization, vulnerability assessment, effective implementation etc. helping in accomplishing the digitalization objective of POWERGRID and benefitting the nation.