National Energy Company Ukrenergo began reconstruction of six substations in the western region of the country׃ Ivano-Frankivsk, Bohorodchany, Rivne and Kovel with a voltage of 330 kV, as well as Kalush and Boryslav with a voltage of 220 kV for the funds of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) with a total of EUR 60 million.
According to the press service of Ukrenergo, the implementation of this project will enable to increase the reliability of the region’s transmission system, reduce technological losses of electricity and operating costs, transfer substations to automated work with the possibility of remote control from the main dispatch center.
“The reconstruction of these substations is financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development within the framework of the Second Power Transmission Project. It should be noted that this is an additional component of the project, the implementation of which became possible due to significant savings achieved during the international public bidding for the basic volume of the project,” Investment Director of Ukrenergo Oleh Pavlenko said.
Reconstruction of six substations provides, in particular, the complete replacement of 330-110 kV switchgears at all substations, the installation of an automated process control system (APCS) for remote monitoring and control of substation equipment, the construction of new premises for relay protection of equipment and general control points of a substation.
As part of the work, contracts were signed with three foreign companies: Chinese-based Xian Electric Engineering Co. Ltd, the Turkish consortium Balikesir Elektromekanik Sanayi Tesisleri A.S. and BEST Elektrik Taahhut Ve Ticaret A.S., as well as with the Kazakh ASPMK-519.
The work is being carried out within the framework of a comprehensive substation automation program, which provides for the reconstruction of all Ukrenergo substations with the introduction of automated process control systems.
The program is aimed at improving the reliability of the power transmission system, creating a technical base for introducing smart grid technology in backbone networks, ensuring the level of reliability and security of the network in accordance with the ENTSO-E requirements.
At the first stage, 57 substations will be reconstructed by 2025, which are formed into nine investment packages. Four more investment packages provide for the reconstruction of 38 substations.
