In November, E-Redes experienced multiple trips with autoreclosure in their medium-voltage grid. These events, triggered under windy conditions, highlighted one of the utility’s main operational challenges: faults caused by eucalyptus trees near the lines.
With Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System®, E-Redes was able to precisely locate the faults and take immediate action to address the issue.
Challenge: Vegetation-Related Faults in the Grid
Vegetation, especially eucalyptus trees, can cause unplanned trips during strong winds. These incidents are difficult to predict and often require extensive field inspections, which can be time-consuming and may not pinpoint the exact problem.
“We needed a system that could tell us exactly where a fault occurs so we can act quickly and avoid unnecessary outages,” says Luis Miguel Arniella Cano, Grid Infrastructure Lead Expert from E-Redes.
Solution: Fast, Accurate Fault Detection with Safegrid
Thanks to Safegrid’s real-time monitoring, E-Redes was able to identify the precise locations of the faults. Field inspections confirmed that eucalyptus bark was the likely cause of the alarms at three specific points in the grid. With Safegrid, E-Redes could pinpoint the exact problem areas, reducing unnecessary patrols and allowing maintenance teams to take action.
Result: Reduced Outages
With Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System®, E-Redes was able to:
- Locate faults quickly and accurately
- Minimize the risk of unnecessary outages during windy conditions
- Plan maintenance efficiently by directing teams only to the affected points
- Improve operational confidence with real-time insights to the grid