Westermo supports the upgrade of a 110/6 kV power station to prepare for future energy needs

Tauron, a Polish energy provider, used Westermo switches to upgrade an energy station through its Polish distributor, Tekniska Polska, a Westermo gold distributor.

Purpose of the project

During the modernization of the Energy Station, the aim was to ensure the continuity of electric power supply for the current and future needs of one of the most urbanized and industrialized regions in the country. The utility value, on the other hand, was the increase in the reliability of energy supply and the increase in energy security, as well as the optimization of infrastructure maintenance costs.

Project challenges

The designers were faced with the challenge of maximizing the transmission network's lifetime and guaranteeing that the devices would operate reliably for at least a dozen years. This allowed for a significant optimization, in particular, of OPEX costs in the long-term perspective of the station's operation. Other challenges of the project were the modernization of the technical infrastructure, ensuring reliability in the field of data connectivity, implementation of smart grid functionality and ensuring conditions for the implementation of future new connections.

In order to ensure data connectivity, industrial data communications equipment Westermo was used in the project. These solutions are developed with particular emphasis on the demanding environment in which they will function. It is extremely important that the devices themselves and the data transmission network built on the basis of them are highly reliable. Thanks to this, despite exposure to harsh working conditions, in particular high levels of electromagnetic interference, Westermo solutions guarantee many years of operation without needing to replace or repair devices. As a result of smart design and the appropriate components, the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of Westermo switches and routers can be even 50-60 years. These are some of the best "lifetime" values in the field.

In the long-term perspective, an extremely important aspect from a business point of view is the easy and effective operation of the installed devices and the available support. One of the important reasons for choosing the discussed solution is the access to software updates provided by Westermo as standard. Thanks to this, the end-user has a guarantee that both the equipment and the created network of critical importance are as secured as possible and protected against current threats. In today's world, security and cybersecurity are key requirements, as unauthorized access to one switch could damage the entire network. At this point, another aspect that determines the choice of Westermo products becomes important - the possibility of using firewalls built into the devices.

The project uses switches from the RedFox and Lynx series. In both cases, these are devices operating both in Layer 2 and having Layer 3 functionalities of the ISO / OSI network model. In particular, it means routing, IPSec-based VPN links, creation of DMZ zones and firewalls enabling network segregation and protection of critical data. The diagram shows the ideal organization of the data network for the Energy Station.

Benefits

Benefits for the operator

• Low investment costs over the long term due to the switches long lifecycle,
• Low maintenance and service costs thanks to min. 5-year warranty, free upgrades and network configuration software,
• Industrial design and resistance to harsh environmental conditions,
• Mechanisms ensuring cybersecurity and reliability of data transmission.

 Benefits for the designer and installer

• High-quality devices
• Various models ensuring flexibility in the selection of devices,
• Compliance with industry standards and certifications (including for energy environments),
• Compact design ensuring an easy installation in the confined spaces of industrial cabinets
• Quick and easy deployment thanks to the configuration system.

Insights of the expert:
"The network devices used, i.e. Westermo switches, allow the network to be divided into zones and to isolate and protect communication channels (conduits) in accordance with the IEC 62443 standard. The modules also have a number of other functions required by the above mentioned standard, ensuring, inter alia, access control, port security or event logging. Thanks to this, together with the mechanisms of redundancy and protection, it enables building a reliable critical network with a high level of cybersecurity."
Stefan Bednarczyk, Technical Department Manager and Cybersecurity Specialist at Tekniska Polska