A different look at GIS substation technology

For decades, gas-insulated substations (GIS) have been used primarily in densely populated, metropolitan areas. They take up only 10% of the footprint of outdoor or air-insulated substations and provide reliable medium and low voltage service where space needed to service areas for industrial locations, hospitals, and housing may be limited. However, as rural environments become desirable for solar and wind development, GIS is proving to be an attractive solution outside of urban environments for its reliability, reduced maintenance, and smaller environmental impact.

The development and delivery of Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) has been growing since the late 1960's. Conversely, the space, energy, maintenance, and materials needed for their reliable performance has been getting smaller. This is a good thing for landowners that want to support alternative energy sources without the development of expansive, outdoor substations. And the benefit of needing less space in a rural area doesn't stop at preserving the aesthetic of the bucolic country mile. Smaller, more compact substations are less likely to be damaged by weather or wildlife.

With just over 50% of the US territory used for agricultural purposes, reliability of the power grid should not be overlooked for the customer relying on power outside of urban settings. The benefits of a compact, gas insulated substation have never been more apparent as a time when weather patterns have become more unpredictable and damaging than in previous history. Customers served by GIS will experience fewer outages, resulting in reduced maintenance and lower operational costs.

GIS manufacturers offer an all-in-one solution that includes elements such as circuit breakers, electrical Bus bars, current and voltage transformers, switches, and surge arrestors – but the benefits of this solution are really seen in the overall design:

The right expertise can align GIS technology with some of today's biggest utility challenges, such as the grid modernization required to accommodate interconnections to alternative power sources outside of the traditional urban footprint.

As substation technology is considered in the development schedule, it is imperative to work with multi-disciplinary engineering services for a feasibility study of the proposed solution, a concept design for approval, and fully executable drawings set for construction that covers:

The smaller footprint and lower clearance of GIS brings flexibility to electric distribution solutions and reduces the risk of outages caused by pollution, weather, and wildlife. As demand for grid capacity grows, we look toward technology where maintenance, cost, and complexity does not.