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69% of Electric Utilities Surveyed Separate OT Networks From IT Business Networks

A recent Newton-Evans survey of 55 North American electric utilities finds that companies are even more hesitant than they were in 2016 to combine networks for operational technology with networks used for IT business processes.

Survey participants were asked, “Does your company manage operational technology (OT) protection, control, and automation Ethernet networks separate from your information technology (IT) business process Ethernet networks?” This question is one of several that were asked previously on a 2016 survey of the protective relay marketplace.

In 2019, 69% percent of North American utilities responded that they manage OT networks separately from IT business process Ethernet networks. In 2016, 55% said they manage the networks separately.

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35% of Utilities Surveyed Said More Than Half Of Relays Are Over 15 Years in Service

Newton Evans Research Company has recently completed Volume 1 (the North American Market) of the Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace: 2019-2022, a four volume market report. Here are a few observations gleaned from the survey:

Survey respondents were asked, “Approximately what % of your relays have been in service for more than 15 years? (Best guess estimate)”

On average, 44% of relays in the utilities surveyed have been in service for more than 15 years. The average percent of relays older than 15 years among Canadian utilities surveyed was 61%; the average among U.S. Cooperatives was 25%.
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94% of North American Electric Utilities Surveyed Use DNP3 for SCADA

Newton Evans Research Company is currently surveying for the upcoming Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace: 2019-2022, a four volume market report. Participants in this market study include utility engineers and managers from investor-owned utilities, municipal and provincial utilities, cooperative utilities within the United States and Canada, together with national power systems throughout the world. This year’s study also includes separate surveys of P&C consultants and relay manufacturers.

Interim findings from the survey of North American electric utilities validate earlier Newton Evans observations that DNP3 is more commonly used for SCADA but less so for Substation Automation, controlling actions issued externally to relays, and communications-assisted protection. Almost all North American utilities surveyed indicated the use of DNP3 for SCADA, while 60% said they use it for substation automation. Only 38% indicated the use of DNP3 for communications-assisted protection. Early tabulations have found some increase in deployments of IEC 61850.
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The U.S. Submersible Medium Voltage Switchgear Market

In an electric power system, submersible switchgear is the special combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment all enclosed in a “vault-like” casing to prevent flooding damage. Submersible switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done and to clear faults downstream. This type of equipment is important because it operates in the same way as other forms of switchgear and is directly linked to the reliability of the electricity supply.

A variety of interrupting devices can be used with vaulted submersible switches including fuses, air circuit breaker, oil circuit breaker, vacuum circuit breaker or gas (SF6) circuit breaker.

Newton-Evans has estimated the 2017 U.S. market for submersible switchgear to have been about $140-$155 Million – and growing at about 5% per year, a rate somewhat higher than other MV market segments for electric power infrastructure equipment.
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Global Study Finds Continuing Moderate Growth in Protective Relay Market with Commitment to Improving Protection Coordination and Grid Security Practices

In 2016, Newton-Evans Research Company completed a six-month research study and survey of protective relay usage patterns in the world community of electric power utilities. Findings from 114 large and mid-size utilities in 28 countries pointed to some newer trends in adoption and use of protection and control technology.

Among the key findings reported in the 2016 four-volume study were these:

  • There was a receptive market for incorporating advanced technological capabilities.
  • The role of synchrophasors and teleprotection continued to expand; providing better situational awareness and visualization for control system operators.
  • Most new and retrofit relay units being purchased were digital relays, but in some of the protection applications studied, such as motor protection and
  • large generator applications, and in installations where electrical interference is strong, electro-mechanical and older solid state relays continued to have a niche market position.

Continue reading Global Study Finds Continuing Moderate Growth in Protective Relay Market with Commitment to Improving Protection Coordination and Grid Security Practices

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Protective Relays and IT/OT Convergence: What Will Be Trending in 2019?

In 2016, Newton-Evans Research Company conducted a six-month research study of protective relay usage patterns in the world community of electric power utilities. Findings from 114 large and mid-size utilities in 28 countries pointed to some newer trends in adoption and use of protection and control technology. Newton-Evans Research Company plans to update this market study in January of 2019: Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace: 2019-2022.

Here are some findings from the survey that was conducted in 2016, when we asked utilities how they collect IT information from OT networks:

Where do you provide demarcation between the physical IT and OT networks in order to safely collect IT information from the OT networks? (Check all that apply)
NORTH AMERICA: In 2016, just over half of North American respondents said the demarcation between physical IT and OT networks is at the control center, and 47% said demarcation is in the substation. Seven respondents said demarcation between the two networks is provided at both the control center and in the substation.

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Newton-Evans Study Finds Market for Relay-Centric Devices and Controls Expanding with Emergence and Growth of Newer Industry Segments

In 2016, Newton-Evans Research Company conducted a six-month research study of protective relay usage patterns in the world community of electric power utilities. Findings from 114 large and mid-size utilities in 28 countries pointed to some newer trends in adoption and use of protection and control technology.

Importance of Purchasing “Known” Relays: Sixty-five percent of the North American respondents strongly agreed with the statement, “It is important that we purchase known relays (a proven product with which we have had prior experience).” Overall, 97% of North American respondents strongly agreed (65%) or agreed (32%). Three people were neutral about this statement. None of the respondents expressed any level of disagreement. Eighty-two percent of North American utilities serving more than 500,000 electricity end users strongly agreed with this statement.

Fifty-three percent of international respondents strongly agreed with this statement. Forty-one percent agreed only somewhat. One person disagreed and one person was neutral about this statement.

Agree or Disagree: “It is important that we purchase known relays (a proven product with which we have had prior experience.)”

Continue reading Newton-Evans Study Finds Market for Relay-Centric Devices and Controls Expanding with Emergence and Growth of Newer Industry Segments

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Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace in Electric Utilities: 2019-2022

Beginning early in January, Newton-Evans Research Company will again be gathering survey-based data for its newest four-volume market study, the Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace: 2019-2022, planned for publication late 1st quarter 2019. Some of the questions this study will answer include: 1) Will IEC 61850-based protective relay products gain a higher market share among North American utilities? 2) Is there a change coming in protective relay market leadership? 3) With growing utility emphasis on DA, the integration of renewables, storage devices and demand-side management tools, will there be a need for additional protective relays in MV substations and embedded in a new generation of distributed field equipment?

The 2019 study will measure current market sizes and will include market projections on a world region basis for the next few years. The extensive research program will define the product and market requirements which suppliers must meet in order to successfully participate in one or more of these diverse world market regions.

Newton-Evans Research Company estimates from our earlier 2016 relay market study indicate that the North American protective relay market then stood at $660 million for the combined utility and industrial market segments. It will be important for the P&C community to learn how changes in the world market and grid modernization since 2016 will affect the outlook for 2019-2022.

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North America Factory Shipments of Protective Relays Could Top $700 MUSD in 2018

A four-volume Newton-Evans study conducted in 2016 of the worldwide protective relay marketplace showed a steady increase in factory shipments of protective relays between 1996-2016. If this pattern continues, relay shipments could exceed $700 million by the end of this year.

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Control Systems, Protective Relaying and Substation Automation Report Series Year-End Discount

Research findings from recently completed Newton-Evans studies see an upswing in cyber security investments worldwide, while substantial differences for communications protocols and methods are also evident. Order all 3 of Newton-Evans Research Company’s flagship studies on electric power control systems, substation automation and protective relays and save $9,800 off the initial retail price! Here is what is included:

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Combined market for testing of T&D equipment was $437 million in 2017

There are a number of equipment reliability, performance and safety tests conducted before T&D equipment is ready for commercial deployment. The list of potential tests that are conducted either by “outside services” firms or by the equipment manufacturer is extensive.

Some of the more common equipment specific tests include: internal arcing faults, short-circuit withstand, load switching, loop switching, capacitive switching, harmonics, temperature rise, impendence testing, partial discharge, dielectric, overload testing and others.

Only a relative handful of test labs are equipped to conduct high power testing for clients. The ability to conduct short circuit testing is largely dependent upon having high power test capabilities. In North America., there are only seven companies that presently operate high power laboratories. Two are commercial labs (DNV GL KEMA Powertest and PowerTech) and five are maintained by equipment manufacturers including Eaton, Littelfuse, Mersen, S&C and Schneider Electric. These manufacturer labs also provide lab testing services to outside manufacturers.

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Newton-Evans Research Releases Electric Power Industry-Focused Innovation Study Developed in Partnership with Power Projects Leufkens

The Newton-Evans Research Company has announced the publication of a study: Innovation in the Electric Power Industry Processes and Best Practices in mid-2018. The study was initially developed by Paul Leufkens, CEO of Power Projects Leufkens, based on a presentation on innovation in the electric power industry he delivered at an industry conference earlier this year.
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Estimated U.S. Sales of Medium Voltage Equipment, Components and Related Services Accounted for about $3.6 Billion in 2017 – Likely to Reach $3.9 Billion in 2020

The Newton-Evans Research Company has announced the publication of a series of 18 electric power distribution market two-page snapshot market 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 and growth factors through 2020. Electric utilities accounted for nearly two-thirds of purchases of the medium voltage product categories in this series, with industrial and commercial usage accounting for about one third of the value of MV equipment shipments. A majority of the included grid infrastructure equipment and products continue to be manufactured and/or assembled in the United States.

Continue reading Estimated U.S. Sales of Medium Voltage Equipment, Components and Related Services Accounted for about $3.6 Billion in 2017 – Likely to Reach $3.9 Billion in 2020

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U.S. Investor-Owned Electric Power Utility Automation Market Report

A recently published compilation of survey findings by Newton-Evans Research highlights electric power automation trends among investor-owned utilities (IOUs).

    • For control systems, IOUs tend to use more OMS analytics, are more likely to have an advanced DMS (or have plans for one), use synchrophasors for wide area monitoring, and want cybersecurity features designed as an integrated part of the control system rather than added on.

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94% of Electric Utilities Surveyed are notified of a feeder main fault event via SCADA/DMS

A Newton-Evans survey of 53 Distribution Electric Utilities shows that the overwhelming majority of respondents are notified of a feeder main fault via SCADA/DMS.

How are you notified of a feeder main fault event? (Check all that apply)
Ninety-four percent of respondents reported that they are notified of a feeder main fault event via SCADA/DMS. Forty-two percent said OMS is the source of this notification, and 25% indicated their DA system provides notification of a feeder main fault event. Many respondents indicated that more than one system – sometimes as many as four – all provide feeder main fault event notification.
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47% of Electric Utilities Surveyed Plan to Upgrade or Retrofit Their SCADA System by Year End 2019

In 1Q 2017, Newton-Evans published its 14th survey-based study of the market for electric power control systems (EMS, SCADA, DMS and OMS). Thirty-two of the 68 North American utilities indicated they are planning an upgrade to their existing SCADA system by year-end 2019.
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Utility Plans Call for Continuation of Moderate-to-Substantial Investment in North American Distribution Grid Automation Projects

Findings Corroborate Earlier Newton-Evans Studies Regarding “Mixed” Placement of Controls of Field Devices

The Newton-Evans Research Company today released key findings from its newly published study of electric utility plans for distribution automation. Entitled “North American Distribution Automation Market Assessment and Outlook: 2018-2020” the 74-page report includes coverage of more than 30 DA-related issues.

Progress Being Made with Distribution Automation Programs
North American utilities are making progress, by and large, in developing and implementing new DA applications and installing telecommunications network upgrades to accommodate DA device transmissions. The overall DA market among North American utilities is approaching $1.5 billion and is expected to continue to grow in the near-term and mid-term.
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Distribution Automation Market Study Shows Increase of Distributed Generation Communications/Controls Among North American Electric Utilities

More interim findings from a Newton-Evans study currently underway, “North American Distribution Automation Market Assessment & Outlook 2018-2020,” suggest a trend of gradual integration of communications and control for the management of distributed generation (DG) and distributed energy resources (DERs) among North American electric Utilities. The growth of DG and DERs raises a number of challenges for electric utilities and asset owners who might need to integrate these new resources into their existing distribution automation systems. Here are a few mid-study observations from the survey responses that have been received so far:
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