Azerbaijani experiences in digital substation deployment. How process bus and IEC 61850 addresses utility requirements

This study shows the experience of Araz Energy using a process bus solution in four 110 KV (as retrofitted projects) substations in Azerbaijan. Araz Energy proposal to Baku Electric Grid that is locally called ‘Baki Elektrik Shabakasi/BES’ was based on the hard fibre process bus system made by General Electric-Multilin (as part of General Electric Digital Energy). The use of the process bus system is key as it brings all the benefits of a digital substation and regular SAS (some vendors call it ‘DCS’ for substation automation) and implies changes in the way a traditional substation is being designed, built, serviced and maintained. The experience described in this study is based on the feedback gained and lessons learned from all perspectives in practice from four different substations where the same concept was applied. Since then the use of digital substations has become a landmark in the way substations should be designed, operated and maintained.