Grid Modernization

Renewable Energy Integration

Meet the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources—while ensuring system stability and delivering reliable electric power.

Ensure Transmission System Stability

As renewable energy sources continue to replace traditional fossil fuel generation capacity, care must be taken to ensure that transmission systems remain stable and new generation sources are properly integrated with existing sources.Integrating wind and solar generation poses particular challenges for transmission system operators, who must deliver uninterrupted bulk electric power despite the intermittent and variable nature of these sources.SEL designs and commissions wide-area protection and control systems—also commonly called special protection schemes (SPS) and remedial action schemes (RAS)—that ensure transmission system stability and provide wide-area situational awareness.Enhancing the stability and capacity of existing transmission lines can potentially free up billions of dollars in capital expenditures. In some cases, utilities can operate transmission corridors at a higher capacity after the RAS/SPS is implemented, increasing revenue and freeing up capital expenditure.

Integrate DERs With the Distribution Grid

As distributed energy resources (DERs) are added to the grid, it’s essential to safely and reliably control the interties, or points of common coupling, between distributed generation sources and the utility grid.SEL advanced recloser controls provide a simplified, turnkey point of common coupling solution for most DER interconnections.Featuring built-in synchronization and protection functionalities, the SEL-651R Advanced Recloser Control meets or exceeds IEEE 1547-2018 requirements for interconnection of distributed energy resources. It eliminates the need for multiple devices, providing the ability to protect the DER site and eliminate reclosing delays for the utility in one cost-saving, ultra-reliable package.

Mitigate Variability With Microgrids

Tackle renewable energy goals at a local level by augmenting traditional generation sources with renewables—while ensuring the resiliency of the grid.Microgrids can combine multiple generation sources into one output that is less variable than any single renewable source. SEL microgrid control systems proactively manage renewable sources, islanding them when necessary, managing battery storage, and metering and controlling their contribution to the rest of the grid.Our control hardware works with almost all distributed energy resource (DER) interfaces. Each microgrid control system is custom-engineered to maximize uptime, ensure stability, and meet the grid owner’s operational requirements and economic goals.

SEL powerMAX Microgrid Control Systems

A Partner for Any Modernization Project

SEL offers modernization solutions and services for any part of the grid, scaled to your needs. Partner with us on individual projects or multi-year modernization programs.We design electric power systems, coordinate procurement and construction, manufacture the relays, build the panels, and install and commission the protection and control systems.
  • Simplicity at Every Stage—Streamline your grid modernization program with a single PO. We offer a single-vendor solution for the entire process—from design and permitting through building, installation, and commissioning. This simplifies budgeting, project management, and timelines, ensuring on-time delivery.
  • Advanced Technology—SEL solutions offer the fastest protection available. They also improve systemwide visibility and control through cybersecure remote engineering access, automated event collection, and precise fault location, among other benefits.
  • Access to Experts and Product Support—Engineering support is available to you before, during, and after a project. After commissioning, you receive 24/7 support from SEL application engineers. Technical support is available for the lifetime of every SEL device at no cost.
  • Reduced Total Cost of Ownership—Our simplified project management approach, advanced technology, and expert support lower your O&M costs in the short term and for the entire life of your modernized system.

More Grid Modernization Solutions

Protection and Control System Modernization

Increase operational flexibility, improve reliability, and optimize asset life and power quality.

Distribution Automation and Management

Minimize fault-related outages and automatically reconfigure the grid to restore service.

Grid Stability and Wide-Area Monitoring

Protection, monitoring, and control solutions that ensure transmission grid stability.

Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure

Layered cybersecurity defenses keep your critical infrastructure secure.

Wildfire Mitigation

Mitigate wildfire ignition risks with solutions that detect downed and broken conductors.

Partnership and Support

We believe you should never have to worry about whether your protection and control systems will be working when you need them most. That’s why you always have access to SEL engineers—and every device we manufacture comes with a ten-year warranty and free technical support.
After your modernized systems are commissioned, our worldwide corps of application engineers provides technical support for SEL products at no cost.As long as your SEL products remain in service, you have free access to direct technical support from a large corps of application engineers who are intimately familiar with the way our devices are deployed and the systems they support in the field.Customer support staff and application engineers are stationed in regional offices across North America and around the world.

Security Bulletins and Updates

We notify product owners of updates and security patches for the full life of the product. Software and firmware updates are distributed directly to our customers via secure file transfer.More About Security Notifications

Training and Education

SEL meets your workforce training and continuing-education needs through seminars, conference and tradeshow presentations, and technical training courses.We can also work with you to develop training that is customized to the specific needs of your workforce.
SEL builds layered cybersecurity defenses into every solution we design and offers complete cybersecurity support for our solutions, systems, and products.We also practice secure supply chain management and help our customers comply with applicable supply chain and cybersecurity standards (for instance, NERC CIP-013 for certain North American utilities).

Cybersecurity Updates and Notifications

We thoroughly review and test the code in our products, which allows us greater control over their quality, security, and functionality. We issue updates and security patches whenever necessary, for the full life of every SEL product.

Cybersecurity Services and Support

From system assessment and baselining to cyber-defense solution development and ongoing system management, our full suite of security services can help strengthen your defenses and streamline the demands of maintenance and compliance.Cyber services support contracts can include incident response, audits, system hardening, patch/update management, and more, depending on your anticipated needs.Contact SEL Cyber Services
SEL products are designed and manufactured for the world’s most challenging environments. Whether they’re installed in a control house, in the substation yard, or on a line pole, you can be sure your SEL devices are up to the challenge.

Rugged and Reliable Devices—Guaranteed

SEL devices are designed for a working life of at least 20 years, and every SEL-manufactured device comes with a ten-year warranty—the best in the electric power industry. If it fails under warranty, repair and replacement are free.We always do all that we can to repair any returned product, whether it meets our warranty or not.With a field-observed mean time between failures (MTBF) of more than 1,000 years, SEL electronic devices exceed all industry standards for temperature, shock, and electric stress.* An optional conformal coating for circuit boards adds an extra level of protection against contaminants in extreme environments.*This MTBF metric was calculated in April 2023.
Warranty and Technical Support

SEL product warranty—plus how to return a product or contact tech support.

Secruity Notifications and Updates

Stay informed on cyber vulnerabilities and keep your SEL products up-to-date.

SEL System and Product Certifications

SEL systems, processes, and products are certified to internationally recognized standards.

Cybersecurity Solutions

Solutions and services that help you implement and maintain layered cybersecurity defenses.

Belgium Integrates Offshore Wind Power Into European Grid

Elia Power, Belgium’s transmission system operator, partnered with SEL to integrate 1,000 megawatts of wind power into the European grid.

Related Content

Technical Papers

Videos

Case Studies

Webinars

Questions? Contact Us!

If you have any questions about SEL products, services, solutions, or support, please contact us. Our service and support professionals are ready to provide the answers you need.

Unbeatable Support

SEL support teams are stationed in regional offices around the world and staffed with application engineers who are experts in our products and in power system applications.

Technical support for SEL-manufactured devices is always complimentary. No matter how often you need to call or how long your SEL products have been in service, you’ll reach an SEL expert who can provide the service and support you need.

Our cybersecurity team is always ready with the information and resources needed to keep your OT networks and critical systems secure and working effectively. Cyber services support contracts can include incident response, audits, system hardening, and more, depending on your anticipated needs.

More about SEL warranty and support