Schneider Electric Solution Integrates Devices from Multiple Vendors and Maximizes Uptime at Manitoba Electrical Station

Press release

IEC 61850-compliant energy automation and protection system is one of the largest in North America

Mississauga, Ont. – February 3, 2015 – Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced the completion of the engineering, design, manufacturing and installation of Canada’s largest redundant IEC 61850-compliant protection and control system. Installed in the newly built Riel Terminal Station located near Winnipeg, Schneider Electric’s Protection Automation and Control Integrated System (PACiS) will help Manitoba Hydro enhance the reliability of the province’s power supply.

Riel’s PACiS substation automation system is fully redundant with two control systems able to operate independently. More than 120 intelligent devices on the IEC 61850 network – from multiple vendors – communicate with each other through PACiS, increasing the security and reliability of the solution. Each device has two communication channels, working in parallel, connected to separate Ethernet rings. Both channels send the same information at the same time, ensuring the loss of any single device on the network will not result in a loss of protection or control functionality for Manitoba Hydro.

“Schneider Electric’s PACiS technology supports the design of reliable and redundant applications that meet even the most demanding specifications and standards,” said Eric Deschenes, Vice President, Energy, Schneider Electric Canada. “Our solution at the Riel Terminal Station not only meets IEC 61850 standards for protection automation but also firmly places Manitoba Hydro at the forefront of the utility industry by delivering interoperability across multiple vendors, cost-savings and flexibility.”

Schneider Electric’s PACiS solution provides an unrivalled global systems approach with integrated protection (MiCOM) and meter (PowerLogic) ranges. The PACiS system also increases safety and cyber-security by helping to build a secure and NERC-CIP compliant solution, and with versatile HMI, PACiS provides innovative graphical functions to simplify operation and maintenance of assets in the electrical network.

Announcement Highlights:

• The Manitoba Hydro Riel Terminal Station, completed in October 2014, was built to meet stringent IEC 61850 standards. The PACiS deployment installed at the station is the largest in Canada, managing over 120 Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) across the network.
• The Riel Terminal Station is an integral part of Manitoba Hydro’s grid, improving the reliability of the province’s energy supply by providing an additional point where electricity imported from the United States can be introduced into the utility’s transmission network.
• Schneider Electric’s PACiS technology is a digital control system, belonging to the latest generation of competitive, innovative power automation solutions. It operates on IEC 61850 and enables re-thinking of the design, operation and maintenance of electrical installations.
• As a partner in the Riel Improvement Initiative Project, Schneider Electric provided and deployed a fully redundant system compliant with NERC CIP cyber security standards, interoperable between multiple vendors and technology focused on reliability as part of the solution.

Read more about the Manitoba Hydro Riel Transmission Substation at https://www.hydro.mb.ca/projects/riel/index.shtml.

Learn more about Schneider Electric’s Schneider Electric’s Protection Automation Control Integrated System (PACiS) at http://www.schneider-electric.com/products/WW/EN/5400-substation-automation-systems/5430-power-management-system/60786-pacis/.

About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructure, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Non-residential Building, Data Centres & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company’s 140,000 plus employees achieved sales of CAD $33.4 billion dollars (24 billion Euros) in 2013, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy. www.schneider-electric.com/ca