GE’s Grid Solutions’ Grid Automation division together with Advance Information Technologies (AIT) Corporation - an EPC contractor and system integrator for Grid Automation solutions in Vietnam - has successfully energized the Ia Le 1 substation in Gia Lai province in Vietnam, sticking to a tight 12-month schedule, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Despite all the unforeseen COVID-related complications, the powerful combination of GE’s global experience with AIT’s local capabilities enabled the team to meet the deadline challenge,” said Nicolas Gibergues, Grid Automation Leader. “We are confident that this will be a blueprint for future similar endeavours using our innovative digital substation solution.”
This new windfarm connection project had two distinct parts: the windfarm and the connecting substation. AIT was responsible for the supply, installation and commissioning of the 22/220 kV substation, connection to the overhead high voltage (HV) lines and providing the Power Plant Control (PPC) system. AIT contracted GE to design the substation using their full arsenal of digital substation components: C650 bay control units, UR family and F650 protection relays, MU320 merging units, S20 Ethernet switches, RT430 GPS clock and G500 gateway.
GE’s Grid Automation team also supported AIT with engineering and implementing the complete IEC 61850 configuration of the substation (and its various communicating IEDs) and assistance during the installation and testing phase.
Due to COVID-19, all processes and activities were severely disrupted, with all project meetings and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) done remotely. Due to AIT’s vast experience and reputation in the Vietnamese marketplace, they were able to mobilize enough resources to manage the situation and meet this project’s schedule.
Though AIT had never worked on a PPC system, by combining the PPC and the HV substation, this proved to be a winning differentiator supported by GE’s Grid Solutions.
The substation was successfully energized and connected to the grid this past September. The PPC system is still undergoing final testing and is on target to meet the scheduled date of October 31st, 2021.
More on the windfarm project
Chu Puh district is highly suitable for windfarms because the wind is strong (6 m/s) and does not vary much over the month. Also, there are two 500 kV and a 220 kV line transmission lines passing through the district, making it even more attractive to large-scale wind power projects investors.
The project will provide an average annual 320,683 GWh of additional power to the province and will help power three new factories. In addition to the numerous jobs created during the construction phase, the associated 27 km of new tarmac road built connecting with National Highway 14 will also help transport agricultural products.
