The contract is a part of PPL Electric Utilities’s three-year, $38m smart grid project to enhance system reliability in the Harrisburg area.
Alstom claims that its e-terradistribution 3.0, a single user interface that uses a single network model, integrates supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software and advanced distribution management system (DMS) in one integrated IDMS.
With this technology, PPL Electric Utilities will be able to access a set of applications to monitor and control electricity distribution and transmission networks from one point in its control room, maximizing reliability across the network.
Additionally, the company’s technology provides self-healing attributes to locate faults and its single platform software architecture, specifically designed for three-phase unbalanced distribution networks, can handle large volumes of data.
The single software architecture will help PPL make informed decisions concerning both day-to-day operations and outages from severe weather events, while the technology’s automated response capabilities help speed efforts to restore power and improve overall reliability.
Alstom Grid Network Management Solutions vice president Karim Naggar said the focus has been increasing on smart grid technology including distribution infrastructure, to improve reliability, integrate clean renewable energy resources and respond faster to widespread outages.
"PPL Electric Utilities is already making effective use of our standard deployment methodology including the capabilities, tools and processes to support a streamlined, on-time delivery," Naggar added.
Image: Alstom Smart Grid Solutions. Photo: courtesy of Alstom.
