Press Releases
ScottishPower EnergyNetworks the service provider to ScottishPower a major
Electricity Utility in the UK covering 35,200 km2 and with 5.2 million customers have
chosen Radius as supplier of their ‘distribution automation’ system to help them meet
their regulatory targets.
The ‘distribution automation’ and ‘network Telecontrol’ system, which will cover the
entire SP EnergyNetworks geographical distribution network, will become one of the
world’s largest systems
Scottish Power (SPPS), which owns SP Manweb plc in the United Kingdom and PacifiCorp in the United States, has reached an agreement with U.K. regulator OFGEM to bring automatic post fault restoration to its urban and rural network. This will involve, in the first phase, some 300+ schemes operating out of their primary substations, bringing remote control and automation to approximately 1000 secondary remote switching sites.
For the last four years, SPPS has been working with RADIUS UK Ltd. (Cheshire, England), a manufacturer and supplier of remote control and automation systems, to bring pockets of automation to its rural network. However, following the last regulatory price review, SPSS identified a need for a large-scale approach to post fault restoration on its underground and overhead networks.
RADIUS was awarded this contract and has designed a system tailored to suit SPPS`s business needs. Each automation scheme is centered around a primary substation with serial connection back to SPPS`s Network Management (NetMan) System, using customer specific protocols. SPPS required each automation routine to run independent of its main supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) host, since communication to this could not be relied upon in severe storm situations, nor would it support the algorithms or the additional traffic. However, the SCADA host has complete visibility and control of the schemes.
Polar Challenge is a competitive, 350 mile team race, across the arctic to the 1996 position of the Magnetic north pole.
The race takes place between mid April and mid May each year, taking teams approximatley 4 weeks to complete, including training time.
Competitors race on skis, pulling their supplies in 120Ib pulks, stopping at two checkpoint en route to re-supply
The arctic is one of the world`s most extreme environments, with temperatures as low as -50C, with 80% of the world`s polar bear population.
The race itself runs from Polaris to Isaachen mine, through 3 checkpoints. The first 2 checkpoints are for resupply, to take on new food and fuel. The 3rd is the 1996 position of the magnetic north pole. As it is hazardous for planes to land here, the finish line is a further 25 miles, near a disused airstrip.
Radius provide a first in real time communication to more than 2 Cooper recloser used by Westar Energy. Radius PDR data radios are being used to constantly monitor Westar’s urban electrical systems close to Wichita University so they can provide optimum
power supply and support, to the neighbourhood surrounding the University.
Seward is a prime example of Radius’s core clients in the US. They are a public run energy company who’s core aim is to provide the local area with the most cost effective electricity they can provide. So any excess charges such as line rental for monitoring their SCADA system, needs to be addressed. Radius provided such a cost cutting measure, through their PDR 221 data radio.
The US Radius team have been working with Butler Public Power District on a fully integrated network monitoring system for their Canon SCADA System. The System was developed to monitor the load management on the network via wireless data telemetry.
More than 80% of Global Utility Respondents declare having substation Automation and Integration Programmes under way
Europe’s energy providers are facing many challenges with the liberalisation of the European market, Automated Substation Integration promises important economic, security, and environmental benefits by promoting substantial upgrades to the performance of the transmission and distribution network that connects electricity generators and consumers.
Radius US has won a major customer in the US for the supply of the PDR data radio modem. Dominion, one of the USA`s largest producers of energy, has signed a blanket purchase agreement with Radius US to supply the much need PDR data radio modem for remote operation of their SCADA system.
Radius provides a wide area remote control system for Scottish Power in order to help them achieve their supply quality targets. The distribution automation system allows remote control and monitoring of overhead and cable switchgear and networks using motor switch operators and RTUs and the NetMan digital data radio system.
Radius has signed two big orders together for 75 million Swedish kronor. The order value is split between the Scottish company Scottish Power Power system Limited and the Anglo-welsh company Western Power Distribution Limited. Both of the orders are for remote automation systems that will make the distribution both safer and more effective.
