Enhancing the Future of Utilities with Virtualised PAC

Protection, Automation and Control (PAC) systems are vital in ensuring the integrity of power grids. The rise of digitalisation has further improved the functionality of these systems, delivering materials and installation savings alongside fewer power outages, thanks to enhanced maintenance capabilities. 

How can virtualised PAC help the grid and the various utilities attain a carbon-free future? From simplified physical designs to reduced costs, learn how virtualised PAC will benefit manufacturers, vendors and other stakeholders in utilities. 

Optimising Substation Hardware with Virtualised PAC 

Virtualised PAC enables the optimisation of existing hardware forming part of the grid. PAC can be run for multiple feeders within the same hardware, while the virtualised nature of the solution means that only the bare minimum of installation, engineering and commissioning is required.  

The fourth generation of virtualised PAC will add to advances already made, which have reduced Air Insulated Substation cabling by 70% and empowered vendors to offer predesigned, modular hardware solutions. Virtualising substation hardware ultimately reduces costs for both manufacturers and end consumers while simultaneously minimising lead times for energy distribution.

The Move to Software-Defined PAC 

Hardware is no longer an integral part of PAC for substations. The shift towards software-defined PAC has produced benefits to vendors in the energy sector. Decoupling software from hardware allows for greater flexibility for utilities to match the ever-more dynamic nature of the grid, all the while reducing lead times for the onboarding of new systems.  

O&M is simplified through adopting a software-first approach: testing of firmware updates can happen with ease using lab-based process simulation, while patches and updates can be applied automatically with little to no downtime. This results in cost savings for manufacturers and system operators, substantially reducing the number of materials used and the amount of long-term maintenance required for these systems. 

Scalable Solutions for Utilities with Virtualised PAC 

Digitising PAC in substations offers R&D teams the opportunity to harness their available talent to build systems which suit the modern and dynamic energy environment. New and scalable product support layers should form part of PAC infrastructures. Additionally, existing and new functionalities will need to be introduced to the virtualised platform, giving them the ability to respond to energy needs like real-time demand response.  

Legacy systems must also be considered. R&D teams must ensure that these systems can still be maintained despite technological advances, which may present cost and time challenges. System operators will need to factor this into any cost savings they might make from digitising PAC. 

Critical Software specialises in supporting operating system vendors to create fully scalable software solutions for manufacturers. What’s more, we can leverage our 25 years’ experience in critical systems development to assist product companies in managing prototype and PoC development, assuring and testing products, and migrating technologies. 

Want to learn more about the benefits of virtualised PAC and how we can help? Get in touch! Reach out to Rogério Paulo and begin your journey towards digital power management systems.