COLOMBIA — GE Renewable Energy has provided equipment for “Portugal”, Enel-Codensa’s first fully digital substation in Colombia.

Francesco Bertoli, GM of Enel-Codensa noted that the Substation Portugal will be providing energy for the operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (PTAR) Saltpeter, key work on the decontamination of the Bogotá river.  “Portugal” is expected to meet the growing demand from the west of Bogotá.

“With the installed digital solutions, it is possible to carry out processes such as maintenance and reconfigurations in a more sensitive and efficient way. Furthermore, the digital resources are going to take decisions that optimize the operation, and that all the information is digitized and can be accessed with ease and immediacy”, said Fernando Rodríguez, Commercial Director of GE Renewable Energy Grid Automation Division in Latin America.

Another partner in the project was Soltec, a leading company in the supply and commissioning of GE Renewable Energy products and solutions in Latin America.

“We have chosen a solution for the division of GE Grid Solutions based on the digital relays UR (Universal Relay). These equipments represent for us a highly secure, available and reliable system, on a proven platform, now in digital version, to supply smaller, more reliable protection and control systems, which have a lower cost during their useful life. It is also easier to maintain and expand than a conventional substation,” explains Patricio Bracamonte, Director of Soltec.

Substations with digital technology such as Portugal represent the transition from conventional to digital technology and constitute a hit for the electricity sector. Furthermore, its benefits maximize the replacement for less contaminating materials, the installation times are shorter, and the power and quality of the service positively impact the community, bringing energy in a more reliable, sustainable and accessible way.

Source: GE Reports Latinoamérica