Learn Drakenstein Municipality’s phased approach to digital distribution efficiency with ETAP

One of the key tools that significantly aided our work was the etapAPP, which accurately captured site information for model development, resulting in the creation of these impressive models for the customer.
Alvin Naidoo, Managing Director, Altek Solutions

In January 2022, Drakenstein Municipality released a tender for a SCADA system solely for monitoring purposes. Schneider Electric, ETAP, and Altec decided to examine this project and offer the customer something that far exceeds a conventional SCADA system, taking into account the customer's vision and requirements. This case study focuses on the digital journey proposed for this customer in Phase 1 of the project.

Drakenstein Municipality is a local municipality within the Cape Winelands District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The Drakenstein Electro—Technical Services Division is responsible for supplying electricity to the Paarl, Wellington, Simondium, and Klapmuts areas. An estimated 51,000 electricity consumers reside in the Drakenstein area. The Drakenstein Municipal Notified Demand with ESKOM amounts to 175 MVA per month.
Altek Company is a premier system integrator and a leading multidisciplinary engineering firm. It specializes in delivering comprehensive engineering intelligence and data management solutions from start to finish.

Location: Drakenstein Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa

Year: 2023

Starting the digitalization process effectively

Challenges

  • Identifying the scope of the electrical network managed by the customer.
  • Drawing a topology of the electrical network managed by the customer because the customer has incomplete data.
  • Enabling visibility of the network in the control center.
  • Creating a digital model (replica) of the electrical network to monitor main behaviors.
  • Process should be developed progressively, step by step, and should optimize operations.

Which solutions did they choose?

Selected applications

They selected the ETAP game of products, which includes a Real-Time Advanced Distribution Management System with eSCADA, GIS, mobile etapAPP, and an Outage Management System.

The primary solution is the eSCADA software, which facilitates network monitoring and operation, as well as grid visualization, on computers, tablets, and mobile devices.

Why do they use Etap?

Main Customer Benefits

  • The network was modeled, and an inventory of the assets was done.
  • Drawings were reviewed and updated according to the situation on the substations by using direct communication between the field and control server located in the Control Center.
  • Free field electrical data collection application etapAPP, which synchronizes ETAP Electrical Power Systems Software data. This tablet application streamlines field data collection, as well as models, verifies and visualizes electrical systems using logical, and geospatial asset location and connectivity.
  • Integration of multi-OEM system in the project.
  • A robust digital twin network model was delivered. It integrates old and new facilities and technologies.
  • A flexible and modular system that continuously evolves while maintaining high efficiency, efficacy, and usability. 

What do they think about ETAP?

Opinions

The digital transformation, as mentioned, creates a digital replica of the entire electrical network, where we utilize the etapAPP to capture site information. When we undertook model development with diagnostics, ETAP was and is a robust beast.
Alvin Naidoo, Managing Director, Altek Solutions

The technology in place when creating a system that accommodated both legacy and newer technologies was relatively easy due to the robustness of ETAP and the communication protocol. The design we implemented in the system, being future-ready with phases two and three in mind, helped us create the most future-ready system available on the market.
By Mr. Alvin Naidoo, Managing Director, Altek Solutions



Videos

Drakenstein Municipality Control Center uitlizing ETAP SCADA & DMS to communicate with and control substations

Drakenstein Municipality sought an OEM partner to establish a SCADA Main Station in their Control Centre, supervising the distribution network of the Dalweiding Substation supply area, integrating substation protection and control solutions using the IEC 61850 standard, with ETAP chosen for its digital-twin concept, model-driven approach, and modular scalability, facilitated by Altek Solutions.


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