Performance in electricity distribution, to the north of Timișoara
A brand-new transformer substation, one of the best-performing in the domestic electricity distribution system, was inaugurated in early April this year, in Dumbrăvița, County of Timiş.
With erection of new transformation substation that supports electricity in the western part of the country, E-Distribuție Banat meets both the need for energy upgrading in accordance with European targets, as well as the real usage needs of the population. Located only 6 kilometers away from Timișoara, Dumbrăvița is a locality that has constantly developed over the recent decades, and is now seen as a northern suburb of the city on the Bega River.
The local charm and the good living conditions increased the commune's population year by year, most of the newcomers choosing to leave the City and retire here. So it is that, while back in 2002 the settlement had less than 3,000 inhabitants, today Dumbrăvița counts more than 20,000 inhabitants. This is proof of the development trend of the area, which still maintains today at residential, industrial and business level, and is the reason of the need for a new high-performance substation to supply electricity at the highest standards.
Equipped with a total capacity of 50 MVA (Mega Volt Ampere), supported by two 110/20 kV transformers, this new substation will supply, once the medium voltage networks are fully completed, household and industrial users in the northern part of Timișoara, as well as the Traian Vuia International Airport, logistics and shopping centers, production halls and many more, with 5,300 customers served only in a first phase.
A much-needed investment
Such a bold project requires a financial involvement to match, and the total amount of the investment exceeds RON 50 million, of which E-Distribuție Banat has already disbursed RON 23.59 million, with another RON 27 million to follow for to the medium voltage networks connected to the new substation. It should be also noted that, in the end, this will allow an increase in capacity of up to 80 MVA, and this will make possible both the increase in the number of connections to the distribution network, as well as higher electricity consumption for another approximately 4,500 households or for more than 30 industrial customers, which is of essence, considering the accelerated development of the area.
In fact, since 2005, E-Distribuție Banat has invested more than RON 2 billion in the upgrading of the electricity network - from the digitalization and reengineering of the substations and transformer posts, to replacement of measuring equipment. Over time, the companies of E-Distribuție have made investments of more than RON 7.5 billion in the country, the bulk of which has also concerned digitalization, reengineering and most effective possible upgrading of the network. This reflects the commitment assumed by the Enel Group at global level to contribute to the UN's sustainable development goals, including the goal related to access to clean energy. For their part, as is the case here, the Romanian distribution companies of the Group are concerned about reaching these goals with initiatives adapted to the local context.
Technical performance, for the benefit of as many customers as possible
As for the new transformer substation of Dumbrăvița, its technical performance is beyond any doubt. The substation is supplied from the high-voltage power line (110 kV) nearby, and the connection is made through an underground power line, being inserted into the Remote Management system of E-Distribution companies, which allows remote operation, from the dispatch center. Thus, the response times are considerably reduced, and the quality of services is at the highest level.
Thus, the local residents and companies have available a fully digitalized station, provided with new, compact and energy-efficient equipment, some of which is produced in Romania. Beyond the technical performance, the major benefit provided by Dumbrăvița substation and the future medium voltage networks to this area is the increase in the capacity of the distribution network and in the safety of the supply to household and non-household users; in other words – a distribution service for higher quality to as many customers as possible.
“Electrification is an irreversible process all over the world, and we have anticipated the needs of the community and will continue to work to have resilient, digitalized, flexible and participative electricity distribution networks”, declared Alin Crăciunescu, Head of E-Distribution Banat, during the inauguration event in Dumbrăvița, County of Timiş.
Increased efficiency and care for the environment
Equipped with new transformers, in accordance with the European standards, the station to the north of Timișoara includes 22 cells with state-of-the-art protections, to which another 12 cells can be added to connect both producers and consumers. It is also equipped with new, compact and high-efficiency equipment with a low own consumption and minimal environmental risks. And the connection from the power transformers (110/20kV) to the medium-voltage cells, heat-shrinkable insulating material was used in order to protect both the medium-voltage busbars and the local fauna.
Additionally, for high energy efficiency, this substation is located in a heat-insulated building, lighting is done with LED technology, and photovoltaic panels can be installed on the protection and safety land, thus reducing its own energy consumption and the CO2 emissions. In this way, electricity can be supplied to the end consumer in the most efficient and environmentally-friendly manner possible.
We support education
And because E-Distribuție supports professional training of the future energy specialists, we continue to organize visits of students from specialty faculties, the tomorrow's engineers, together with their professors, in order to give young people the chance to become familiar with the cutting-edge technologies for electrical substations and networks. So far, 60 students and professors from the Faculty of Electrical and Energy Engineering of Timișoara Polytechnics University have visited the station of Dumbrăvița, and such initiatives will not stop here.
“We will continue this programme, in collaboration with UPT, to give as many students as possible, the future specialists, the chance to become familiar with cutting-edge technologies, to see how the theoretical knowledge acquired at the faculty ca be applied in practice and thus be better prepared for their future career in this industry – why not, maybe even in E-Distribuție Banat, perhaps even in the management of high-voltage installations, as this one. We are eagerly waiting for them to take over from our more experienced colleagues who will retire in the coming years”, said Monica Hodor, CEO of E-Distribuție companies, in Dumbrăvița.
Together, for energy transition
Currently, we have every reason to talk more and more about the importance of electrification and the use of electricity, particularly from renewable sources, as the main source of energy. “This new transformer substation is one of the steps that Romania, like Europe, is taking on the path towards electrification. Electrification is the only sustainable way to develop,” said Carlo Pignoloni, CEO & Country Manager of Enel Romania, attending the inauguration of the new substation of County of Timiș. He emphasized that, recently, we could witness how Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels give rise to energy price crises, with adverse economic effects on the entire continent, and once this crisis is in the past, we should not forget what had caused it.
The solution that no one doubts today is the use of electricity from renewable sources in as many activities as possible - from economic to domestic ones, from transport and public lighting, to home cooling and heating or to food preparation. Given the accelerated urbanization that we are witnessing today around the world, only the renewable energy has the ability to mitigate the dependence on fossil fuels, thus preventing further price fluctuations, as we have seen recently. And the role of electricity distribution networks is a vital in this process. The networks of the future are digitalized and perfectly capable of supporting the energy transition, integrating renewable energy sources, including those from small producers, and adapting to new types of consumption. “It may seem far-fetched, but it's actually already happening. Romania already has important rates of increase in the production capacities installed at prosumers, and the number of electric or electrified cars is increasing, too.”, added Carlo Pignoloni.
Continuation of energy upgrading, as a strategic objective
In fact, the Enel Group is present in the area of Timișoara not only with electricity distribution side, but also with more than 20 recharging stations for electric transport - all of which is proof of its active involvement in the continued energy upgrading in the western part of the country, in line with the European and global trends.
“It is not by accident that several years ago Enel installed our very first fast-charging station for electric vehicles right at Traian Vuia International Airport of Timișoara. There was a demand for this service, so we acted upon it. This shows that customers' decisions can influence the developments in the energy sector”, added the Country Manager of Enel Romania in his speech. Even the simple choice of electric vehicle over a classic engine can influence a country's energy consumption mix. It is also important to point out that today, approximately 20% of the energy consumed at global level is electricity, followed by gas, oil products, coal, etc. “To stay with the targets of the Paris Agreement, we need to increase this percentage from 20% to 50%, that is to more than double it. This means that the energy transition will increasingly involve distribution networks. We already see electric vehicles on the streets, we see houses that are heated with heat pumps, so the technology used in electrification provides more value. This electrification happens on medium and low voltage lines. Consequently, what will have to happen over the next 10 years is a continued upgrading, expansion and digitalization of the electricity grid. Everything must be done taking into account, of course, the impact on customers, so that the effort is sustainable for end consumers”, said Carlo Pignoloni during of the inauguration of the substation in the northern part of Timișoara.
