Research Overview
Establishment of Industry Standards to Drive Integration of Various Digital Devices in Substation Automation
Most devices deployed in the substation automation market in North America are proprietary and communication between them is possible only through protocol converters. This extended process consumes a lot of effort and money during commissioning, apart from reducing the efficiency of the equipment. Utilities hope to co-ordinate the real-time information obtained from these devices to share the information across departments. To do this, they have to implement standard protocols that are reliable and optimize device functionality. Several standard communication protocols have failed because not all intelligent electronic device (IED) vendors adopted them. Utilities have begun to realize the benefits of integrating various digital devices in substation but this trend will pick up only with the adoption of standard protocols. Greater acceptance of distributed network protocol (DNP) as the standard protocol for remote terminal units (RTUs), IEDs, and master stations in North America
will aid integration of digital devices.
This Frost & Sullivan insight examines the status of the North American substation automation market with a focus on its benefits, drawbacks, and future trends. The study provides market information on various services, technologies, opportunities, and dynamics. This research service enables companies to align their positioning strategies to benefit from the changing markets and obtain maximum return on investment.
Vendors Develop High Speed, Robust Communication Channels to Accommodate Expanding Data Forces
With the amount of data required for monitoring and controlling substations set to escalate, there is an urgent need for highly reliable, secure, and robust communication networks. These network channels will ensure that communication disruptions do not take place within the substations and remote centers. Higher bandwidth communication channels aid efficient data acquisition and send the information to the required center in real time. Efficient authentication and encryption techniques are required to make communication safe from attacks by external factors.
"Some of the latest communication technologies include Internet-based virtual private network (VPN), and satellite, wireless, and optical fiber communication," says the analyst of this research service. "However, each of these alternatives has its own advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to depend on a single mode of communication." The cost of communication channels should also be considered to ensure its feasibility, even when under budget constraints.
Falling Substation Integration and Automation Costs in Utilities Encourages Sustained Market Growth
The $350.5 million North American substation automation market is expected to witness steady and sustained growth until 2011. This optimistic outlook is due largely to the integration of IEDs, which is likely to help utilities maximize the performance of protective relays, improve system performance, and execute remote diagnosis and equipment testing. "These factors are expected to reduce the operational and maintenance costs for utilities, which enables them to stay competitive," notes the analyst.
Once the integration of IEDs is complete, the focus is likely to shift to the types of automation that are suitable for the substation, driving market demand. End users are anticipated to increasingly invest in substation automation solutions, and thereby increase market revenue. Another major factor that can affect market growth is the approval of the U.S. Energy Bill. Electricity policies, especially those pertaining to transmission and distribution (T&D), are likely to be vital market drivers.
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