Efacec Automation received an important order from the Kenyan company KPLC (Kenya Power & Lighting Company), through its Spanish business partner, Africa Equipment and Engineering. This order includes the supply and configuration of substation automation systems for 7 substations (132/66/33/11 kV).

KPLC is a public company responsible for transmission, distribution and retail of electricity to customers throughout Kenya. The national transmission and distribution network has an extension of about 41,500 kilometers of grid lines, and serves more than 1,500,000 customers.

The system to be supplied for KPLC is based on technology integrally developed by Efacec, the CLP 500 platform. The platform integrates bay control units, terminal protection units, third party protection relays and measurement devices. The proposed solution is based on the IEC 61850 standard.

This is a very important reference for Efacec Automation, as it is the first contract won in Kenya.

Those hydro power plants operate with systems installed many years ago, so as a response to technology evolution, EDP has started updating its systems. Efacec is honored to receive this order which is a sign of trust from EDP Produção in Efacec's solutions and products.

The scope of remodeling consists in replacement of 16 generator automation units, 7 auxiliary service automation units, as well as several remote units (RTU) for 5 load boards, 4 small dams, 3 regular dams, 2 valve chambers and one water outlet. Moreover the order includes the control workstation to be installed at the supervision center in Seia, able to monitor and supervise 7 hydro plants, as well as the operation workstation to be installed at one hydro plant in Caldeirão, also able to operate this hydro plant.

The systems to be supplied are based on Efacec technology, the CLP 500 platform that will integrate the following solutions: UC 500 – the station server, DCU 500 – the programmable automation controller, HMI 500 – the human machine interface.

This supply includes all remodeling services and installation of fiber optics between all locations, in order to create a unified optic network. All equipments included in the installations will be configured with Efacec engineering tool the Automation Studio, in accordance to the IEC 61131-3 standard.

       

All components will intercommunicate through an Ethernet network, according to the IEC 61850 standard. The substations’ station server units will communicate with the upstream control center (SCADA) through the IEC 60870-5-101 protocol. The devices synchronization will be performed by GPS.

The SCATE X system architecture, based on redundant a server configuration, with two operation stations, will be operated uninterruptedly by six engineers (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). This way, a high availability index for the 15 hydro power plants operation is guaranteed.

In past years Efacec do Brasil supplied several systems for Electric Power Operation Centers, namely for AMPLA, BANDEIRANTE, ESCELSA and ENERSUL. This order is extremely important, highlighting the role of the Automation activity in the electric power networks sector.