This week RST Net handed over three new digital substations to Landsnet. This is a substation at Hnappavellir in Öræfi (EPC), Sauðárkrókur and Varmahlíð. All substations are covered and SF6 gas insulated. The substations are of a new generation of substations with new digital measuring equipment, and the substations are therefore so-called digital substations. A digital substation is a term used for an electrical substation whose operation is controlled by distributed intelligent electronic devices connected by fibre. The digital substations bring major benefits in design, installation and operation.  The use of fibre optic cables for measurement, control and protection devices also saves a significant amount of copper cables.

The installation of substations went well despite the major challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Construction on the substation at Hnappavellir began in May 2020 and construction concluded with excitement setting on 2 June 2021. The project is an EPC project i.e. RST Net was responsible for the design, provision and installation of both construction and electrical equipment.  The substation has three 145 kV GIS switch cells from ABB in Germany and increases electricity supply capacity in the area, e.g. for the development of tourism in Öræfasveit. 

Construction in Skagafjörður began in spring 2020 and concluded with voltage setting in Varmahlíð on 29 May and in Sauðárkrókur on 01 June 2021.  Simultaneously with the construction of these two substations, a 66 kV underground cable was laid between Sauðárkrókur and Varmahlíð, which RST Net was responsible for connecting.

In these two substations, RST Net was responsible for the design, provision and installation of all high voltage equipment, as well as control and protection equipment and DC systems.  The high-voltage switchgear in both substations comes from ABB in Germany, like at Hnappavellir.

Part of the work was also to design, procure and install a 132 kV air-insulated switch block as an extension to the existing outdoor substation in Varmahlíð to connect the new digital substation to the settlement line. 

The above projects in Skagafjörður will greatly increase security of electricity supply in the area.