Distribution automation is an advanced, integrated information management system that combines computer technology, data transmission, control systems, modern equipment, and efficient management practices. Its main objectives are to enhance the reliability of power supply, improve power quality, deliver better services to consumers, reduce operational costs, and alleviate the workload for field operators.
In developed countries, distribution automation has long been a well-established practice. With China's rapid progress in building smart grids, the automation of distribution networks—considered a crucial foundation for smart grid development—has become a key priority. At the State Council Executive Meeting held in July of last year, strengthening urban distribution network construction and promoting grid intelligence were identified as one of the six major tasks for urban infrastructure. The State Grid has also formed a dedicated team to prioritize the upgrade of automation systems, leading to a comprehensive push in distribution automation. This indicates that the distribution network, which has historically been the weakest link in power grid development, is now entering a phase of rapid growth.
Compared to developed nations, China’s distribution automation started later and remains in its early stages. The market is still immature, and several challenges need urgent attention.
First, the development of distribution networks lags behind and is uneven. Although investment in distribution networks has increased in recent years, historical debt continues to hinder progress, especially at the medium-voltage level. Disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as between eastern and central-western regions, remain significant.
Second, the grid structure is weak, and the level of automation is low. The 10 kV grid is still underdeveloped, with a large gap between urban and rural networks. Nearly half of the 10 kV lines remain unconnected, and rural interconnection rates are only one-third of those in cities. Distribution automation is still in its infancy, with slow fault diagnosis, isolation, and recovery times. It lacks the ability to perform network reconfiguration and self-healing, resulting in poor mutual supply capability and longer power restoration times.
Third, the basic data of the distribution network is incomplete, and information technology is outdated. Distribution network management involves multiple departments such as development, agriculture, transportation, marketing, and dispatch, with data scattered across different systems. Inconsistent data standards and lack of sharing mechanisms further complicate operations. Low investment and underdeveloped communication and information systems have led to limited access to critical data.
Currently, the State Grid Corporation and local power companies are actively developing company-level plans for distribution automation. Based on the experiences from pilot cities between 2009 and 2012, and after revising automation standards, it is expected that these initiatives will be completed by late 2013 and early 2014, paving the way for full-scale distribution automation development between 2014 and 2020.
According to Chen Feng, the assistant general manager of the State Grid, grid companies are accelerating the integration of distributed energy into the grid, particularly focusing on distribution networks below 10 kV. The State Grid is conducting rolling planning for the distribution network from 2013 to 2020, extending planning to county-level grids. These plans are expected to be released before the end of the year. Additionally, the State Grid has issued "Technical Guidelines for Power Distribution Planning," aiming to fully resolve electricity shortages in remote areas by 2015 and address weaknesses in county-level grids. A modern distribution network will be built to support rapid economic and social development and urbanization.
It is predicted that 2014–2016 will be a period of explosive growth for the distribution automation industry, with investments reaching 15 billion, 30 billion, and 40 billion yuan respectively, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of over 100%. By 2020, the total investment is expected to exceed 150 billion yuan, creating strong investment opportunities for the distribution automation equipment sector.
One of the top engineering experts at the State Grid, Zheng Yi, a senior engineer from the Chengdu Distribution Automation System Technology and Maintenance Department, proudly highlighted the achievements of Chengdu's distribution automation system. Since the project began in August 2009, Chengdu has made significant progress, achieving full application and deepening of the system. Every breakthrough was the result of hard work by the local electric power staff, leading to successful deployment in operation, maintenance, and repair. Chengdu's success has earned recognition both within Sichuan and nationwide, showcasing the spirit of efficiency, practicality, and innovation.
After years of construction and renovation, Wuxi's distribution network line connection rate has reached 80%, with strong mutual supply capability. However, the lack of automation and intelligent systems has limited the overall regulation ability of the network. Fault handling still relies on manual identification and isolation, requiring dispatchers to issue orders and operators to go to the site, making it difficult to significantly improve power supply reliability.
Before June 2014, the company planned to install intelligent terminals at 197 power distribution stations and 437 ring network cabinets in the Xishan Economic Development Zone, enabling remote control of all lines and segmented switches. For lines with long branches, heavy loads, and many users, such as the Shengli and Yuhong lines, on-column switches will be replaced with customer demarcation line breakers to achieve instantaneous fault removal and minimize power outages. Once completed, the Xishan area will reach 100% distribution automation, laying a solid foundation for further improving power supply reliability in Wuxi.
The distribution automation project of the Tianjin Chengnan Company has been launched comprehensively, achieving full coverage in the Hexi and Heping core areas. The planned investment includes 36 subprojects within a 30-square-kilometer area of Hexi, covering approximately 1,100 power distribution stations. The project is expected to be completed this year, allowing more people in Tianjin to benefit from the convenience brought by distribution automation. This year, distribution automation has reached a mature stage, with all business gateways involved in automation now open.
Heilongjiang Junhe Building Materials Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.junhejiancai.com