Downed conductors in the electrical grid do not only cause outages but also serious risks at the location of the event. The primary risk is the potential for electrical shock. Downed MV conductors can still carry a significant amount of electricity, and contact with these live conductors can result in severe injuries or fatalities due to electric shock. Depending on the environment this may also cause a serious fire hazard. Wildfires sparked by downed power lines or conductors can escalate quickly and pose significant dangers to nearby areas, including homes, forests, wildlife, and communities.
Earlier this year, four earth fault events were deliberately generated using varied setups to simulate a downed conductor. This initiative aimed to conduct a field test assessing the efficacy of Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System in identifying and pinpointing earth faults. All events were located correctly.
“We are very satisfied with the results of the test and we see high potential for this solution”
Summary of Earth Fault Testing Procedures
About EDP
EDP is a prominent player in the Portuguese and Spanish energy landscape. They have over 2 million customers and it is one of the largest distributors of electricity and gas globally. They are focusing on renewable energy production and the majority of their energy production is already from renewable sources.
They have been included in the Dow Jones sustainability index since 2008 and EDP is currently number 1 among electric utilities in the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).