Polish energy company PGE Group announced last Tuesday (19 December) that it has begun work on a project to build the Central Power Dispatch in Lublin (eastern Poland).
With a total planned cost of 34 million zlotys (7.8 million euros), the new facility would act as a hub for managing and controlling the entire high-voltage network within the company’s operational area. It would also receive information about all incidents or damages to line sections within the company’s area.
“We are consistently taking steps to digitise the energy system. The development of distribution networks and the guarantee of their stable operation are necessary to ensure safe supplies of electricity to nearly 6 million of our customers. To this end, we consistently modernise and expand our distribution infrastructure,” said Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.
The facility will be adapted to carry out tasks related to the management of a high-voltage 110 kV network located in the entire area of operation of PGE Dystrybucja. It will be equipped with modern technological solutions, such as independent power systems, redundant uninterruptible power supply systems, a full set of low-voltage installations and a graphics wall with an image processor.
“The planned Central Power Dispatch facility, together with the necessary, specialised solutions in the field of ICT and communications, will constitute a key component of supervision over the operation of the PGE Dystrybucja power system,” added Mr Dąbrowski. “This investment is a consequence of our activities aimed at digitising the energy system, as a key component determining the active participation of customers in the functioning of the energy market.”
Additionally, independent communication solutions will be implemented (including those based on a project in collaboration with PGE System, LTE450), as well as redundancy in information technology/operational technology solutions. This will enable continuous monitoring of the network and its correct functioning in real time, PGE said in a press release.
The facility is also expected to contribute to actively managing the distribution system in terms of network infrastructure and the technical and organisational potential of users. It is also expected to leverage the integration capabilities of renewables, ensuring the optimisation of the energy mix.