ABB Review Special Report - ABB - ABB Group

Power SystemsRana MukerjiConsultingAmid the regulatory transformation that is revolutionizing the utility market,reliability and economics stand out as the factors driving financial andoperating performance. To get the best return on their assets and performat the highest level, utilities are turning to solutions that integrate thedomain competence of consulting experts with the very latest softwaretools. New methods for optimizing performance costs have been developedin the course of several recent projects undertaken by ABB.Power systems consulting is a keyABB offering, enabling customers toplan, operate and maintain their systemsin a more economical and reliable way.Consulting work in which ABB is engagedcovers a broad spectrum, and includes:Planning for grid upgradesSystem performance issues related tovoltage, thermal and dynamic stabilityconstraintsEvaluating and enhancing grid reliabilityForecasting demand growth for distributioncompaniesBenchmarking of utilities relative toglobal ‘best in class’ peer groupsAsset evaluation and reliability centeredmaintenance planningTechnical due-diligence in support ofmergers and acquisitionsThe ABB Consulting group is a globalteam of more than one hundred powersystems experts with local presence inthe USA, UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden,Italy, India and China. ABB consultantsare backed up by over 6000 product,systems and service specialists in locationsclose to our customers, enablingthe company to identify and implementtotal system solutions.Changes for the betterJust as the rest of the power industryhas changed dramatically within the lastdecade, the art and science of transmissionand distribution planning is fundamentallydifferent from what it wasten years ago. Deregulation and performance-basedregulations are changingthe framework within which plannersand system operators work. Considerationhas to be given to new technologieson both the load side and the supplyside. The changes cover the spectrumof regulatory policy, technology,competition and industry economics.In recent years, a strong global economyhas resulted in demand growth inmost companies’ service territories. Inthe majority of companies, even thosewith overall flat growth, there are pocketsof relatively strong load growth inthe system for which planners mustspecify the infrastructure. More thanever, utility planners need to be awareof the equipment installed in the system,as well as its current condition.Generally, customers also expect a levelof reliability as good as, or better than,the reliability they have been used to inSpecial ReportABB Review29