Self-healing Distribution Grid: Benefits, Challenges and Optimize Way of Implementation

Abstract

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL) is a Power Distribution Utility, serving about 1.5 million consumers of North and North-West Delhi. Tata Power-DDL always play a pioneer role in power distribution reforms in its licensee area to reduce AT&C loss and improve reliability and consumer satisfaction through technology adoption. Self-healing Distribution Network is one of the progressive step towards Smart and Digital Utility to provide quality and uninterrupted power to its consumer. As name suggests, Self-healing Network is capable of quick detection of fault, isolation of faulty area and then restoration of healthy section without manual intervention. Although it improve system reliability significantly by reducing restoration time, it require highly mechanized and automated system which need huge investment. But as a part of regulated business model where each investment converts into consumer tariff, it is not advisable to invest such high capital expenditure. This study describe the benefits of Self-healing, challenges to develop it in Tata Power- DDL and the optimized way to implement the same in cost effective manner.