Many difficulties are ahead
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tuan - Director of EVN’s Telecom and Information Technology Department said that EVN has made certain progresses in the automation of power grids, thereby contributing to improving the capacity of electricity supply for customers. The Group has successfully applied many technologies such as: deploying SCADA systems for remote control centers, developing distributed control systems (DCS) in substations to reduce incidents and increase operational reliability, etc.
In particular, many member units under EVN have integrated control systems when building, deploying remote control centers, and renovating unmanned substations. This is a good condition to promote internal resources in EVN, increase the activeness in deploying and troubleshooting control systems at member units, reducing costs and dependence on contractors when upgrading and extending facilities.
EVN has constantly developed a remote data collection system, thereby improving the accuracy of data metering and reading, labor productivity and sympathy of customers with the power industry.
Although certain positive results have been achieved, it should be frankly admitted that the grid automation of EVN still has some shortcomings that need to be overcome soon. EVN’s Vice President Ngo Son Hai said: The automation systems in EVN are not consistently and synchronously deployed, consequently it will be difficult to develop and add new functions to the systems. Personnel in the field of automation are not strong enough in terms of quantity and quality to fulfill and meet the increasing work requirements.
SCADA systems are effectively applied in remote control centers
What solutions should be in place?
The development of grid automation by EVN has been oriented to reach three main targets: Completion of SCADA systems, standardization of remote control centers and unmanned substations, standardization of remote data metering and reading systems.
With the targets set out, in the coming time, member units of the Group will focus on training and retraining of automation specialists and engineers. EVN determines its "key areas" for deployment, appoints the Information and Communication Technology Company of Vietnam Electricity (EVNICT) as a focal point to do research and development activities in this field, actively working with related organizations to develop automation products for EVN with high efficiency and applicability.
According to EVN’s policies, its subsidiaries will deploy the automation by themselves or via technology transfers, hiring experts within EVN to integrate systems, build up, upgrade remote control centers, and develop control systems at 110 kV substations, etc. Accordingly, EVNICT and the Central Power Corporation have been assigned by EVN to actively work, transfer technology and transfer existing products (such as integrated control systems at 110kV substations, software systems for remote control centers) to other member units of EVN for application and cost saving.
Despite many difficulties and challenges, especially when technologies are constantly changing and developing day by day, with the synchronous and drastic implementation of solutions, EVN has been putting great efforts in mastering technologies, step by step moving towards smart grid development in Vietnam.