Newton-Evans Research is pleased to offer its hundreds of utility contacts an opportunity to participate in the upcoming ARC Advisory Annual Forum during February 8-17, 2021 with complimentary registration.  Many of the scheduled sessions during this period directly impact IT and OT developments that are being planned or already underway within the electric utility community.  Newton-Evans has long been supportive of technology transfer that can benefit all infrastructure component industries.

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Propelled by recent global health and economic crises, industrial innovation is accelerating.  Leading companies progressed along their digital transformation journey and quickly adapted to the changed business reality.   They supported remote connected workers far earlier than expected, and leveraged advanced technology to support the remaining front-line workers in the plant, in offices and out in the field.  With what they have learned, they are re-thinking how to manage operations using shared data, analytics, distributed work, and digital twins.  Join us to learn from your peers as executives charged with driving transformation are seizing this moment to innovate and deliver real value for both IT and OT applications developments.

Cybersecurity and Safety AI and Machine Learning Asset Performance Management Blockchain for Industry Supply Chain Transformation IT/OT/ET Convergence Automation Innovations Industrial IoT Platforms & Edge Devices Digital Twins & Connected Smart Machines Smart Cities Transformation Digital Transformation Council (End Users Only) The Digital Transformation Council is the place to Connect, Collaborate, Learn, and Share with peers who are digitizing and transforming their organizations.  DTC is an end user only community; technology suppliers are not allowed to participate. Need for digital transformation for industrial organizations and cities will continue to accelerate and evolve for some time.  Every organization and municipality will need to innovate, change, and adapt. So, where to begin? How can you determine which technologies and techniques to consider, which to prioritize, and which to reject?  The answer will certainly be different for each organization, but a good starting point is to understand the critical dimensions of the problem, because this can serve as the basis for planning.  Council members can benefit from access to a community of peers. Digital Transformation Council Mission The Digital Transformation Council seeks to enable industry, energy, and public sector professionals driving or impacted by digital transformation to keep abreast of the many emerging technologies and business trends, to learn from others on similar journeys, and to leverage these trends and technologies to achieve transformational growth. Council members benefit from access to community of peers.  They can tap the latest thinking from thought leaders, download research documents from the Council Library, participate in quarterly web meetings and other events, interact with ARC analysts, and request facilitated meetings with suppliers or other community members Join us at the 25th Annual ARC Industry Forum to learn more about how digitizing factories, cities, infrastructure and supply chain will benefit technology end users and suppliers alike. Discover what your peers are doing today and what steps they are taking in their respective journeys. Visit ARC Industry Forum for up to date information on the speakers and agenda. One key session at the ARC Forum Day 5 – Feb 16 at 2:30 pm EST is titled “The Future Electric Grid” – and that panel discussion in itself should make your registration worthwhile. Learn More about ARC’s Digital Transformation Council. The 4th Annual Meeting will be held Monday afternoon at the Forum. Forum Fee As an electric utility end-user of technology, you are welcome to register as a DTC Member.  DTC is an end-user only community, you are invited to visit ARCweb to learn more about this community. You may unsubscribe from this community at any time.  Please use your business email to receive your complimentary ticket. If for some reason, you can not use your business email to register for this event, please Contact ARC so that we can approve your registration. ARC Forum main page:  https://www.arcweb.com/events/arc-industry-forum-orland0 ARC Forum Agenda:  https://www.arcweb.com/events/arc-industry-forum-orlando/agenda-2021 ARC Forum Registration:  https://www.arcweb.com/events/arc-industry-forum-orlando#register

 

Newton-Evans is planning to publish the following reports during 2021:

First Quarter 2021

U.S. Market Overviews: Power and Distribution Transformer Series:  2021-2023

U.S.Market Overviews:  High Voltage Equipment Series:  2021-2023

Second Quarter 2021

World Market for Substation Automation:  2021-2023 – Four Volume Set of Reports

U.S. Market Overviews: Medium Voltage Equipment: 2021-2023

Third Quarter 2021

U.S. Market Overviews:  Substation Series:  2021-2023

U.S. Market Overviews: Control Systems Series: 2021-2023

Fourth Quarter 2021

World Market for EMS, DMS, SCADA and OMS: 2021-2023 –  Four Volume Set

 

 

 

North American Study of Network Transformer Use and Plans in Progress through August 2020.

Preliminary Findings Suggest Increased Use of Network Transformers Likely as Underground Distribution

Increases in  Dense Urban Centers and on Large Commercial and Industrial Campuses

August 18, 2020.   Ellicott City, Maryland.  The Newton-Evans Research Company is conducting a major study of usage trends and plans for network transformers used to supply power to grid-type secondary distribution networks and systems in areas of high load density, typical of large urban areas, and are designed for use in vault type or subway type applications, in scores of cities and some suburban areas  and large C&I campus-like settings across the North American grid.

Network transformers may be oil-type or dry-type units, and of either single-phase or 3-phase design. Underground submersible units being purchased currently are likely to comply with IEEE standards requirements approved in 2016 (C.57.12-24) and for 3-phase units <2500kva (C.57.12-40) as approved in 2017.  Usage of network transformers is limited to underground networks found in major metropolitan areas served by IOUs, large municipal utilities and in a few high-density suburban areas served by distribution cooperatives

Product distribution channels used include purchasing direct from the manufacturer, distributors, and occasionally, manufacturer representatives or sales agents.  Major IOUs serving large cities having underground distribution networks tend to use blanket purchasing arrangements with selected manufacturers.

Most currently installed units across North America utilities are oil type units.  About three-quarters of respondents to date prefer to purchase network transformers paying a higher initial cost and minimal service requirements, while one-quarter prefer a lower initial cost with an ongoing service agreement.

Product safety has been ranked as the most important feature of network transformers among the initial group of respondents, followed closely by operating life expectancy.  Product efficiency of operation and prior field experience with equipment manufacturers were also important among this group.

Significant volume users of network transformers were unanimous in reporting that new underground, submersible transformers must meet current IEEE requirements and all network transformers are expected to comply with IEEE C57.12-40.2017.

When asked to indicate whether network transformers were being used in conjunction with other devices, network protectors and protective relays were especially prominent as noted by respondents.  A few also noted use of surge arresters on the high voltage side of the transformer and some have also reported including network transformers in their utility transformer asset management software.

For utility engineering and operations personnel who may wish to participate in the study, please send an email request to cnewton@newton-evans.com and a survey link will be forwarded.  A report of findings will be shared with participants.  All submissions are held in confidence. Only aggregated information is used in report preparation.  Generous stipends/donations are available. The field work will be completed in August, 2020.

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Preliminary Findings Suggest Increased Reliance on VRs Likely Given the Continuing Growth in Use of DERs and PBRs

 

August 4, 2020.   Ellicott City, Maryland.  The Newton-Evans Research Company is conducting a major study of usage, trends and plans for voltage regulators used to assist in maintaining voltage stability and reliability across the North American grid.

While the use of single-phase VRs can be found among all types and sizes of electric utilities across North America, three-phase units tend to be found primarily among larger investor-owned utilities, and among some G&T cooperatives.

The key drivers for using VRs in the distribution grid today are led by the increased requirements for voltage stability and reliability, as reported in the responses from two-thirds of the initial 20 utility participants to date.  Importantly, C&I construction activities, linked with subsequent increases in load/demand, also have been ranked highly as a driver for increased use of VRs.  In addition, the increased implementation of DERs on the grid, a key factor in today’s grid voltage fluctuations, provide yet another key reason for using VRs to help provide grid stabilization.

Additional topics being studied include phase-to-ground voltages used in conjunction with VR; the use of VRs with other voltage improvement devices such as distribution feeder capacitors and substations capacitors; purchasing methods and preferences; installation methods, requirements for unit compliance with the latest IEEE requirements, wish lists for new VR product capabilities and a number of other pertinent topics.

For utility engineering and operations personnel who may wish to participate in the study, please send an email request to cnewton@newton-evans.com and a survey link will be forwarded.  Findings will be shared with participants.  All submissions are held in confidence. Only aggregated information is used in report preparation.

On May 1, 2020, the President issued an Executive Order that forbids American electric utilities from purchasing (or utilizing) grid-related equipment obtained from countries viewed as adversaries.

There is not a clear definition of “adversary” provided in the executive order at this point in time.  It seems that such a listing must be made public for utilities to know what to do in the coming months.  Neither is there a clear definition of which products and equipment types are included, although common sense suggests that any “smart grid” equipment or device that can communicate externally would or should be closely evaluated.

However, this layman’s interpretation of the order puts the onus of having to identify the source country and component manufacturer for each component in the supply chain, and that is going to be a real challenge for some.  This is because there is an increasingly complex multi-layered array of capital equipment, devices, systems and software in use at hundreds of American electric utilities. The onus will fall to an even greater extent upon the manufacturers and integrators serving the electric utility community.

There is a reasonable requirement for electrical equipment manufacturers to be able to identify the source country of origin (COO) for every component of a smart device – even down to the foundry level in some instances.  This has been true for Milspec-related federal procurement for decades.

Importantly, domestic and international electrical equipment suppliers –both manufacturers and distributors – will now have to provide more depth to their equipment certificates that ensure traceability of origin, including tracing components from trusted sources located in approved countries.

It will come as no surprise that the initial list of “blacklisted” countries will very likely include China, North Korea, Iran and Russia, even though that list has not yet been officially made public.  Fortunately, there is very little use of finished “smart” goods from these countries in operation in the U.S. at this time.

Just as important- or perhaps more so – for software systems as for hard goods and components, it will be critical to identify the specific locations used for developers of source code for all smart grid software modules, programs, apps and packages.

What is quite clear to me is that, in the US, and among Western nations in general, electric utility standards and procurement officials must be prepared to ascertain the sources of already deployed smart devices throughout the electric power grid that could adversely affect electric grid operations at some point in time.  This is in addition to the thousands of smart grid projects now in the planning phases here at home and throughout the free world.

Among the plethora of smart grid devices now in use, the most important to vet will be digital relays – both loose relays and those embedded in generators, transformers, switchgear and other equipment.  Next in importance are the hundreds of thousands of communications-centric transmission and distribution level monitoring and control devices including dynamic line rating devices, line monitors, pole-top RTUs, smart controllers for capacitor banks, voltage regulators, automatic reclosers and sectionalizers.

Smart substation equipment (protective relays, electronic measurement devices, precision time measurement devices, power quality monitors, synchrophasors, et al) is now deployed in a majority of the nation’s 65,000 primary T&D substations.  At the consumer level, smart meters are at the top of the list of devices to be assessed, already deployed by the millions of units, whose component assemblies will likely need to be authenticated.  Digital fault recorders are installed in hundreds of critical manufacturing sites. Motor controls and associated relays are installed in thousands of manufacturing plants and in power generation facilities.

Moving into the sector of distributed energy resources, there are smart devices and attendant communications modules involved in, and embedded with, both wind and solar generation as well as in energy storage.  Wind turbine controls, smart inverters, small secondary substations whose final assembly may occur in the Western nations will have to verify sources of components, motherboards and microchips.

– Chuck Newton

U.S. Electric Power Utility Capital Investment in Grid Modernization:  Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Near-Term and Mid-Term Outlook

Interim Report By Charles Newton, Newton-Evans Research Company

This article has been developed based on findings from surveys completed by officials from 22 U.S. electric utilities comprising about 10% of served end-use customers.  To date, the mix of participating utilities includes several IOUs, along with public power utilities and electric cooperatives.

The study is being undertaken to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on utility grid modernization plans involving capital expenditures.  Newton-Evans has requested the participation of major and mid-size American electric utilities in an attempt to gauge whether or not CAPEX investments will continue to be made as planned earlier, and whether grid modernization projects will continue as scheduled or will likely be deferred for some time.

Figure 1 indicates that nearly one-half (48%) of the surveyed utilities continue to have plans to launch new smart grid projects either in 2020 or in 2021.

Figure 1.

 

Continue reading U.S. Electric Power Utility Capital Investment in Grid Modernization: Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Near-Term and Mid-Term Outlook

If you have insights into your utility’s plans for its near-term CAPEX planning affecting grid modernization projects, we request your help. . Newton-Evans will value your participation in our current study of the capital spending outlook for the nation’s electric utilities in light of the current pandemic.  Newton-Evans will retain your observations in confidence, and will provide you with a complimentary 40-page report of findings gathered from among electric power industry officials located throughout the United States.  The secure online survey is located here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ElectricUtilCAPEXsurvey

Some reasons to participate include:

• Help industry manufacturers, T&D consultants and systems integration firms prepare to meet the nation’s electric utility demand for equipment and systems during late 2020 and 2021.
• Provide fellow utility planners to better understand specific grid modernization activities that IOUs, public power utilities and cooperatives are preparing to undertake.
• Keep up with industry trends by having your own copy of the highly regarded Newton-Evans’ CAPEX report to share with management in mid-May.

A special “thank you” gift is is also available for participants at the end of the 12-question (largely multiple choice) survey.  To date, we have well-thought-out responses in hand from major IOUs, public utilities and electric co-ops.  Looking forward to your survey participation, we thank you kindly for sharing your insights.  We are closing off survey data collection work on Friday, May 15, 2020.

 

November 8, 2019.  Ellicott City, Maryland.  With nearly 100 officials from 30 countries participating in the 2019 Newton-Evans study of trends in protection and control practices, there were some wide variations noted in the use of networking technologies across the world.

Among 55 North American utility respondents, the most prevalent networking technologies in use during 2019 included SONET/SDH (40%), T1/E1 (33%) and a mix of T1/E1, SONET and packet-based (33%). This seems to imply that SONET is the leading technology among the sample. However, the two networking technologies to watch out for in the next 4 years are IP/MPLS and SDN; 18% plan to use IP/MPLS and 15% plan to use SDN by 2022.

The most prevalent networking technologies used in 2019 among the 42 international utility survey participants included SONET/SDH (31%), Industrial Carrier Ethernet (29%) and IP/MPLS (26%). Based on the survey sample, the leading technologies planned for development by 2020 include MPLS-TP (29%) and SD-WAN (24%).

The Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace in Electric Utilities: 2019-2022 measures current market sizes and contains projections on a world region basis for the next few years. More than 35 topics are covered in the utility survey portion of this study with participation from nearly 100 utility P&C officials from countries around the world.  The complete four-volume study of protection and control practices and trends is available from Newton-Evans Research Company.  Details are available at https://www.newton-evans.com/product/the-worldwide-study-of-the-protective-relay-marketplace-in-electric-utilities-2019-2022/ .