Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) said on Aug. 25 that it has transferred its "digital substation performance verification technology," which verifies compatibility issues between facilities in digital substations, to Canadian power company Hydro Quebec.
Unlike conventional substations that send and receive electrical signals between substation facilities using copper wire, 'digital substation' is a digitized and automated substation using International Communication Standards (IEC 61850), which can be operated quickly and efficiently by converting electrical signals into digital signals.
However, since digital substations consist of a variety of digital facilities, problems can occur if they are not compatible (when communication is not smooth).
In particular, KEPCO, which has to use various small and medium-sized enterprises' facilities, needs to check these problems in advance.
The 'digital substation performance verification tool' developed by KEPCO Power Research Institute is a device that prevents communication problems between various facilities and systems in the substation.
Hydro Quebec, a Canadian power company, is planning to convert 500 substations into digital substations by 2040, and this technology transfer will prevent inter-facility compatibility problems that can occur when introducing digital substations.
KEPCO is expected to make about 3 billion won in technology transfer profits when Hydro Quebec introduces performance verification tools.
Based on this technology transfer, KEPCO plans to expand its technology exports to North America regions, including Canada.
"Through this technology transfer, the performance of 'Digital substation performance verification tool' has been recognized not only in Korea but also in the world," said an official at the Korea Electric Power Institute. "We will also make efforts to develop next-generation power core technologies such as intelligent digital substation operation technologies."
