Itaipu and PTI Paraguay develop the first digital substation laboratory in the country

Photo Itaipu Binacional

Asunción, IP Agency.- The Itaipu Binacional and the Itaipu Paraguay Technology Park (PTI Paraguay) is developing the first digital substation laboratory in the country, which will mark a significant milestone in the technological transition of the Paraguayan electrical system.

This facility will serve as technical support not only for the modernization of the national electrical infrastructure, but will also provide a space for the training and training of technical professionals in the area of ​​digital substations, thus promoting innovation and competitiveness in the energy sector.

Within the framework of this digital transformation, Paraguay faces a considerable challenge in the growth of knowledge related to digital substations. Although the region has technicians trained in conventional systems, university education and technical-scientific spaces to research digital substations are scarce. This limits the ability of staff to adapt to new technologies and, therefore, to systems based on IEC 61850 and IEC 61869.

With the intention of overcoming this knowledge gap, Itaipu Binacional and the PTI-PY have joined forces to develop the first Digital Substation Laboratory in the country. This space will be key to promoting comprehensive knowledge management, promoting research and development, and promoting innovation in the electrical field.

The new infrastructure will be designed to validate, in a real environment, different configurations; evaluate the interoperability of equipment and systems; and perform tests on the communication network and cybersecurity.

For Itaipu, this initiative is not only essential to meet several critical needs of the institution, but also aligns with its objective of maintaining and improving the reliability, security and efficiency of its operations. For its part, the PTI-PY sees this laboratory as a unique opportunity to provide institutions in the electricity sector with a technical-scientific space where they can validate new projects before their implementation.

“This will allow us to mitigate operational risks and anticipate possible problems that could compromise the reliability and continuity of supply, both nationally and regionally,” explained Carolina Villasanti, technical director of the PTI-PY.

With the creation of this laboratory, Paraguay not only positions itself at the forefront of the digital transformation of the global electricity sector, but also opens a door to the future, where innovation and efficiency will be fundamental pillars for the country’s energy development. he added.

Technological revolution

The electricity sector worldwide is experiencing an unprecedented digital transformation, affecting every aspect of its operations and substantially modifying market dynamics. In this context, electrical substations, which have the primary function of interconnecting transmission and distribution systems, are at the center of this technological revolution.

Likewise, digitalization is leading to a transition from analog systems, supported by copper cables, to digital platforms that integrate data models, intelligent equipment, communication networks and a high degree of automation in operations and management. This advance is aligned with the IEC 61850 and IEC 61869 Standards, Itaipu reported.