State Load Despatch Centers to have SCADA control by 2026

MNRE and the power ministry are expected to have supervisory control and data acquisition systems to obtain grid stability and security by 2026.

The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy has informed the Rajya Sabha that GRID-INDIA, a PSU under the Ministry of Power, is responsible for monitoring real-time parameters from various substations and generating stations at National and Regional Load Despatch Centres. This monitoring is facilitated through a well-established Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition / Energy Management System, which is used by State Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs) and RLDCs. Regular upgrades of these systems are currently in progress.

Furthermore, Regulation 43(4) of the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations of 2022 outlines the requirement for centralized remote monitoring and operation of substations, including the implementation of SCADA systems.

The Minister conveyed that the process of replacing and upgrading SCADA systems at various SLDCs is underway and is anticipated to be concluded by 2026.

The Minister also highlighted the government’s initiatives in utilising predictive maintenance techniques involving AI/ML algorithms, enhancing cyber security measures, and employing robots and drones for the construction and inspection of transmission assets. These initiatives are as follows:

i. Sensors are utilised in all grid substations to measure diverse parameters of power system assets, such as oil temperature, winding temperature, Dissolved Gas Analysis of transformers, and contact resistance of circuit breakers. These parameters are subsequently analysed using computer-aided tools to facilitate predictive maintenance.

ii. The Central Electricity Authority  issued Cyber security Guidelines for the Power Sector in October 2021, leading to the development and implementation of cyber security measures.

iii. The establishment of a Computer Security Incident Response Team for the Power sector (CSIRT-Power) under the guidance of CERT-In has taken place at the CEA. This team coordinates and supports responses to cyber security incidents and assists utilities in preventing, detecting, handling, and responding to such incidents.

iv. Regulation 87 of the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations of 2022 specifies the utilisation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the construction and inspection of transmission assets in challenging and inaccessible terrains.

To enhance the efficiency of substations across the country and the overall electric transmission system, the CEA released the “Transmission Planning Criterion” manual in March 2023. This manual provides guidelines for planning transmission and substations.