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Use of FDIR, Integrated Volt/Var Control, and Sensors on Distribution Feeders

The following information was excerpted from a Newton-Evans survey conducted in September 2010. A total of 47 utility officials from the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions responded to the survey participation request. For the majority of U.S.-based respondents, there was a good mix of utility representation by size and by type of utility.

Approximately what percentage of your feeders (existing & new) will include FDIR, Integrated Volt/VAR Control, or Medium Voltage/Low Voltage Sensors?

Importantly, utility responses indicate that the percentages of feeders to include any of the three applications will continue to increase over the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 periods.

Integrated volt and VAR control was the most likely application to have been implemented to date. However, the budget percentages allocated for FDIR are expected to more than double over the 2010-2012 periods (from 7% to 15%). The already substantial portion allocated for IVVC will likely grow from 19% to 28%.

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Distribution Automation: Communications for Feeder Automation

The following information was excerpted from a Newton-Evans survey conducted in September 2010. A total of 47 utility officials from the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions responded to the survey participation request. For the majority of U.S.-based respondents, there was a good mix of utility representation by size and by type of utility.

Do you plan to migrate (or have you already migrated) the existing feeder automation communications network to a newer wireless technology that allows for functionality like higher bandwidth, IP enabled radios and WiMAX?
Fifty-six percent of respondents had no plans to undertake any migration to newer wireless technology approaches. Sixteen percent of survey respondents had already migrated their existing feeder automation communications network to a newer wireless technology, while 30% were planning to do so.

If you are adding wireless technologies for feeder automation communications, which wireless technology are you planning to migrate to?
Three specific technologies were listed on the survey form (WiMAX, LTE and 4G) along with “other.” Forty-one percent cited WiMAX, 18% mentioned 4G and 6% listed LTE. More than three quarters of the group listed other wireless technologies as shown below.

Other Mentions

  • NetCom 900MHz packet radio
  • IP radio system
  • 700mHz Arcadian
  • CDMA 450 Mhz
  • Owned licensed spectrum
  • not sure; investigating
  • RFP stage
  • Low bandwidth/IP enabled IDEN
  • Higher speed 900 mHz supporting IP
  • Under investigation; not decided yet
  • unlicensed spread spectrum
  • Wimax, 802.11 technology, 900 mHz spread spectrum
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Distribution Automation Apps That Will Share Network Space

In 2007, a Newton-Evans survey of electric utilities in North America showed that 65% of the sample planned to have capacitor bank control on the same telecommunications infrastructure as distribution automation. Thirty-eight percent said that Volt/Var optimization, demand management or voltage reduction applications will share the same telecoms as DA, and 13% indicated load balancing will also use the same infrastructure. One quarter of the respondents to this survey cited “other” applications such as AMI, fault location, and station alarms.  We are revisiting this question and obtaining status and plans related to many more DA topics and issues during the fourth quarter of 2014.

DAsharedApps

In designing a Distribution Automation system, controls and/or logic can be control center based, substation based, or field based. The 2007 Newton-Evans survey asked electric utilities, “Which type of controls are you planning for feeder automation?”

DAcontrols

Since completion of the 2007 study, Newton-Evans has conducted several proprietary studies on DA topics, both from a field equipment perspective as well as from a DMS perspective.  Our current study is now being readied for North American-wide utility participation in a comprehensive survey format.    During mid-2014, Newton-Evans also published its series of nine comprehensive DA market segment overviews on key market components including DA/DMS systems, control devices for reclosers and capacitors, voltage regulators, fault current indicators, pole-top RTUs, line mount monitoring devices, DA communications options and DA engineering and consulting services.

For more information on Newton-Evans DA research (including the new study of the North American market for DA, planned for late January 2015 availability) see our reports page and the article below.

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Newton-Evans Research Company plans to revisit the topic of Distribution Automation

DA Brochure Image

Newton-Evans Research Company plans to revisit the topic of Distribution Automation (DA) by researching the market for DA field devices, communications methods, engineering service and Distribution Management Systems (DMS) applications software used in the control center, the substation, and on lines and poles. We will invite hundreds of North American electric transmission & distribution utilities to participate in a survey of Distribution Automation hardware, software and communications infrastructure.

The results of this survey will be combined with Newton-Evans’ discussions with DA vendors and manufacturers and published in a report titled “Distribution Automation 2015-2020: North American Utility Perspectives, Market Outlook and Analysis.” This report – available in January of 2015 – will be a comprehensive market overview of the automation aspects of electric distribution networks and supporting infrastructure. The scope of this research project will also include estimates of growth in the communications infrastructure needed to support this increased deployment of DA hardware and software.

Research Methodology
The study will include several weeks of survey-based research with major and mid-size utilities, requesting their insights regarding DA plans through 2020. This study will also include secondary research to learn about documented plans for DA among North American utilities.

The final report, “Distribution Automation 2015-2020: North American Utility Perspectives, Market Outlook and Analysis” will measure current market sizes, provide estimates and outlooks of demand for distribution automation equipment through 2020, and showcase a selection of major product vendors and service providers in the DA marketplace.

(Download a .pdf brochure here)

Continue reading Newton-Evans Research Company plans to revisit the topic of Distribution Automation

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U.S. Sales of Distribution Automation Components, Including Equipment, Systems and Services, Estimated at more than $700 Million in 2013, Forecast to Increase to $950 Million by 2016

Newton-Evans Research Publishes New Edition of Nine Market Snapshot Reports on Distribution Automation Topics Covering the Electric Power Industry in the United States.

June 4, 2014. Ellicott City, Maryland. The Newton-Evans Research Company has announced its latest publication of a set of 9 U.S. distribution automation market two-page summaries. The new series of market overview reports (executive market summaries) includes supplier listings, representative products, and estimated market size for each topic, vendor market share estimates and market outlook through 2016. Electric utilities accounted for about 91% of all purchases of distribution automation related goods and services. A majority of distribution automation equipment purchased by American utilities and industrial firms is produced or assembled in the United States.

The Distribution Automation series ($975.00) includes U.S. 2013 market size, market share estimates and 2014-2016 market outlook for these product and service categories:
DA01 – Automatic Circuit Recloser Controls
DA02 – DA/DMS System Components (including distribution network analysis; distribution network condition monitoring and fault location and characterization)
DA03 – Voltage Regulators
DA04 – Capacitor Bank Controllers
DA05 – Fault Indicators (covering both fault current indicators and faulted circuit indicators)
DA06 – Pole Top RTUs
DA07 – Line Mounted Monitoring Devices
DA08 – Communications Components for DA (covering PLC/DLC; cellular and 900Mhz)
DA09 – Engineering Services for Distribution Automation Projects (covering consulting engineering services, related services provided by manufacturers; DA services provided by smart grid consulting specialists).

Other topical series currently available include: the 2014-2016 series on medium voltage equipment (18 market overviews).

Additional series to be released during June-August 2014 cover high voltage equipment (16 market segment overviews), T&D control systems (11 market segment overviews), substation automation (13 market segment snapshots), power transformers (11 market segment snapshots), and protective relays (8 market segment snapshots).

Further information on this new series of U.S. T&D market snapshots is available from Newton-Evans Research Company, 10176 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 204, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042. Phone: 410-465-7316 or visit www.newton-evans.com/our-reports for a brochure or to order any of the related report series or more than 85 planned individual report summaries online. For those interested in subscriptions to multiple report series, please call or email us for special introductory pricing offers. For more information send an inquiry to info@newton-evans.com

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More Estimates on The U.S. Market for Distrubution Automation

From 2008 onward, Newton-Evans Research Company has completed one or two client-based, proprietary studies each year to provide mid-term and longer-term outlooks for one or more components of the burgeoning Distribution Automation market comprised of U.S.-based electric power utilities. The primary focus of these studies has centered on various DA field equipment types and associated controllers as well as DA software and platforms, located in the field, at the substation level or at the MV operations control center.

Research Methodology
These studies have included several weeks of primary research based on direct communications with major and mid-size utilities, requesting their insights regarding DA plans through 2020. These studies also included secondary research methods to learn about documented plans for DA among other North American utilities and to better understand the likely impact of economic growth projections and electric utility revenue outlook and CAPEX spending. Overall economic information used in the preparation of our range estimates was also based on NGO and a variety of government outlook documents.

The following observations are based on survey completions provided by scores of electric power utility officials during 2012-2014.

DA expenditure allocation among three purchasing categories
The overall indications from the surveys completed prior to 2014 pointed to somewhat more than one-half of the 2013-2015 DA budgets going to the procurement of field equipment, with an equal percentage of the remaining budget allocated for platforms and software, and for DA controller devices.

Over the longer term horizon (2016-2020) the DA expenditure outlook indicated a slight shift in spending patterns, suggesting increases in the percentage of program funding allocated to DA field equipment, and slightly lower percentages going toward platforms, software, and DA controller devices.

The following series of charts represent the Newton-Evans consensus view of low, mid-range and high estimates of likely DA spending for five components:

  • DA smart field-based distribution equipment
  • DA controllers
  • substation-based DA platforms and software
  • control center-based DA platforms and software
  • Telecoms for DA

US_DistAutoEquip_Invest-2020

US_DistAutoControllers_Invest-2020

US_DistAutoSSPlatforms_Invest-2020

US_DistAutoCCPlatforms_Invest-2020

US_DistAutoTelecoms_Invest-2020

Specific DA communications network developments are excluded from this outlook. The mid-range outlook is based in large part on the utility survey responses and a cautiously optimistic assessment of the near-term and mid-term.

The low range outlook takes into account the possible continuation of unclear energy policies at the federal and state levels, federal and local government budget woes, minimal growth in electric utility industry revenues and a continuation of relatively flat electricity consumption patterns.

The high range outlook factors in a stronger economic outlook for the periods from late 2013 thorough 2016, based on the economic analysis information reported by several external organizations.

References were made to recent publications provided by several organizations including The Conference Board, Moody’s Analytics, The World Bank, The Federal Reserve and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The historic DA spending baseline years in this study have been derived from the larger and more comprehensive mid-2010 study of North American utilities conducted by Newton-Evans Research Company.

The forthcoming update to the report series, “Overview of the 2014-2016 U.S. Transmission and Distribution Equipment Market: Distribution Automation Series” goes into more detail with respect to the market for specific DA equipment and spending categories such as Automatic Circuit Recloser Controls; DA/DMS System Components; Voltage Regulators; Capacitor Bank Controllers; Fault Indicators; Pole Top (and Pad Mount) RTUs; Line Mounted Monitoring Devices; Communications Components for DA; and Engineering Services for DA.

See our reports page for topic listings and pricing details, and be sure to send us an email at info@newton-evans.com or call 1 800 222 2856 to place your order.

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U.S. Market for Feeder Protection Relays

According to GE Digital Energy, a feeder protection relay can provide primary circuit protection on distribution networks and backup/auxiliary protection for transformers, generators and motors. With a total estimated market of about $60 million in direct sales to the nation’s electric utilities, this total is expected to grow to $72 million by the end of 2014. Modern (digital/numeric) feeder relays are a key segment of the overall substation modernization and distribution automation equipment market. Feeder relays are just one of 84 types of electric T&D equipment and services discussed in the Newton-Evans report series, Overview of the U.S. Transmission and Distribution Equipment Market, which is presently being updated to reflect year-end 2013 U.S. market values and provide market forecasts and outlook through year-end 2016.  This summary of feeder relay activity is typical of the information contained in each of the 84 reports.  Market segment shares for suppliers are also provided in each report.  Here are a few of Newton-Evans’ observations on this important market segment taken from the 2011 market overview series as well as the Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace In Electric Utilities: 2012-2014.

Average Unit Price Range:
Distribution feeder relays have been recently priced between $900 and $1,800 depending on whether or not other features like over-current protection are included.

Major Manufacturers:
ABB: REF615R Feeder Protection and Control, REF series
Basler: BE1-11f system
Beckwith: M7651
Cooper (now owned by Eaton): iDP210
Eaton: CH-Series, E-Series
GE: M Family, SR 3 350, F650
SEL: 751, 751a, 351S
ZIV: IRV, DRV
ERLPhase: F-Pro

Findings from the Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace In Electric Utilities: 2012-2014 Volume 1 – North American Market:
The 2012 survey findings suggested a likely increase in purchase plans for transmission line relays and distribution feeder relays. In 2012, as in previous studies, distribution feeder relays made up the largest portion of planned relay purchases over the 2012-2014 time frame. A significant share of all utility relay purchases (units) planned for this period were distribution feeder relays.

The earlier 2009 study findings had indicated that distribution feeder relays were the “best-selling” and most widely used type of protective relay within the utility segment, even though redundancy in the distribution grid was not nearly as common as found in transmission applications. About 40% of the total number of units planned for purchase during the forecast period was to be distribution feeder relays.

Digital vs. Electromechanical
In 2012 the survey respondents indicated that 60% of distribution feeder relays in their installed base  were digital/microprocessor relays. This percentage continues to grow as more digital relays are added to the current system every year. The earlier 2009 study observed that 53% of the installed base was digital, with 97% of planned unit purchases likely to be digital as well.  As recently as 1999, the split was 50-50 (electro-mechanical versus digital/numeric).


To stay up to date on our progress with the Overview of the 2014-2016 U.S. Transmission and Distribution Equipment Market, sign up for our newsletter by emailing with the subject line “subscribe.” Visit our reports page for more information and to download a report brochure.

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Looking at Smart Grid Opportunities for Growth at Mid-Year 2012 ….What stands in the Way?

Why we believe the near-term investment priority for utilities of all types must be cyber security-related!

(Security is not always considered part of smart grid spending)!

First and foremost what stands in the way of more significant growth in smart grid-related investment is the state of the global economy. It isn’t totally doom and gloom, but then…. currently, all eyes are on Western Europe, and on the harbingers for economic growth or lack thereof, in North America, the slowdown in China and other parts of Asia. In mid-2011, we took a relatively cautious view of the outlook for smart grid investments, as many utilities simply could not afford to make significant investments then or now.

Our mid-2011 research series entitled The Worldwide Smart Grid Market in 2011: A Reality Check and Five Year Outlook Through 2015 was well received by key, clear-headed market participants and other observers of the smart grid marketplace, even though we had suggested that real growth in smart grid would be spaced out over many years, and overall smart grid market investments would grow only in the mid-upper single digits (on average) each year.

Well, let’s take a look at what is happening around the world that causes Newton-Evans to continue to retain a cautiously optimistic view of most smart grid market segments. We reported quite accurately on these likely developments in that mid-2011 study:

  • Slowdown in China
  • Critical financial and economic issues facing the Eurozone
  • Minimal growth in Western Europe outside of the Eurozone
  • Retrenchment in economic outlook for the United States (as it remains the single largest country market in the world).
  • World Bank and NGO outlook that suggested continuation of low growth.

A few weeks back, there were some trade press headlines suggesting (incorrectly) that the smart grid was approaching umpteen billion dollars. To put much faith in that fairy tale of a report summary would be dangerous and misleading, as others have also stated. The true global market for all segments of smart grid activity (not counting infrastructure) relating to transmission, distribution, and consumer premises activities (AMI, DR, and the like), currently amounts to about 5% of that rose-colored glass outlook, or about $10 billion USD in our considered view. This amount includes all spending for control center systems, automation programs for substations and distribution networks, smart devices to monitor transmission activities, demand response and advanced metering infrastructure. This amount also includes all relevant operational software required to manage the data acquisition and analysis of real-time and historical data.

Certainly, unless the nation and the world lose the little positive economic momentum we now enjoy, there will very likely be a continuation of the mid-to-upper single digit growth rate overall for smart grid activities during the remainder of 2012 and through 2013. Some activities will grow faster (like DA), while others remain sluggish. Much hinges on the various steps being considered or enacted by regulatory and legislative bodies in countries around the world. A high percentage of these deliberations will consider the overall economic effects that such decisions will have on utilities and consumers of all types. Some major utilities will continue to forge ahead, as the daily webinars indicate they are doing. However, it is a rather small group of utilities that currently accounts for a very high proportion of smart grid spending, not just in North America, but globally. The majority of others are still either taking a “wait and see” attitude or hoping that their coffers will soon show more profitability that will enable those companies to make significant investments in one or multiple smart grid segments.

I am a believer that a lot of “wannabe” smart grid investments are being diverted, or will very soon have to be diverted, to better protecting utility IT and operational cyber assets, and this simply will take precedence over the requirements to upgrade equipment, smarten up field monitoring and control devices, revamp communications network architecture and re-energize the electric power grid itself.

This year, Newton-Evans Research has already undertaken a number of national and international studies of cybersecurity issues, and the findings lead us to believe that the single most critical issue facing utilities of all types is the near-term requirement to shore up cyber defenses, policies and procedures. Unfortunately, these cyber security investments will likely continue to usurp funding from other smart grid activities, but this investment must be a priority, in my opinion.

Keep in mind the first priority of every electric power utility – “keeping the lights on” means protecting the system at all costs. Thus, improving system protection and control procedures together with strengthening cyber defenses may well be the key aspects of smart grid development in the near term. We are “robbing Peter to pay Paul” in some real sense, but this is probably a very judicious way to invest for the remainder of 2012, based on what the “surveys say” at this time.

# # #

P.S. Looking for an opportunity to share in our findings? Join your colleagues in the power industry who have benefited from a full year of having accurate descriptions of the smart grid market and its constituent sub-markets. If you haven’t already subscribed to The Worldwide Smart Grid Market in 2011: A Reality Check and Five Year Outlook Through 2015 this would be a great time to do so. (See the reports page to order (http://www.newton-evans.com/reports/). Keep in mind that we will send the mid-2012 update with our compliments – at no extra charge – as soon as it is available.

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New Distribution Automation Study Includes Detailed “Sub-Segment” Level Market Information.

The newest DA report (March 2010) from Newton-Evans Research includes summary level tables of market data for a total of 21 related market categories of equipment, software and services. The 21 tables are grouped under one of four major DA market segmentation categories including feeder primary components; feeder electronics; feeder automation software and services; and distribution management activities.

Each table includes a summary of key trends, market size estimates and key players active in the North American market. The 21 categories for which the summaries have been prepared include: reclosers, sectionalizers, voltage regulator transformers, capacitor banks, small power (MV) transformers and distribution transformers. Summary tables for electronic recloser controls, voltage regulators, capacitor bank controllers, fault indicators, pole-top and pad-mount RTUs, and DA communications are included.

Rounding out the market data summaries are these: DA software, related engineering services, SCADA, OMS, Network analysis, substation transformer load management, voltage control systems, condition monitoring and fault location.

When all components of distributon automation are evaluated together, the DA-related equipment and services market is now above $750 million in the U.S. and Canada, and more than two billion dollars globally. Much more information is provided in the Newton-Evans study entitled “Distribution Automation: Trends, Developments and Retrospectives 2007-2018.” (see the report order steps here http://www.newton-evans.com/?page_id=7 for purchase details).

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Density of Distribution Network Intelligent Electronic Devices Seen as Key to Selection of DA Communications Approach

March 13, 2010 —Ellicott City, Maryland. The Newton-Evans Research Company today announced the publication of its newest report titled, “Distribution Automation: Trends, Developments and Retrospectives 2007-2018.” This report is a compilation of findings from several recently completed Newton-Evans’ market and technology studies and includes new and updated tables on smart field device density, communication approaches planned for adoption for DA, DA market size projections, DA adoption rates, and CAPEX and O&M budget trends for DA. Continue reading Density of Distribution Network Intelligent Electronic Devices Seen as Key to Selection of DA Communications Approach