Gomero strengthens position in Predictive Maintenance with Niklas Wicén as Product Manager
February 2025
By Jasper Spencer
Head of International Business Development, Gomero
Electricity substation outages cause major problems for both the electricity network operators and the public. Renewable electricity generation such as wind and solar puts extra demands on substations. This combined with increased electricity consumption due to electrification means, the maintenance of substation assets is now a strategic consideration for electricity network operators.
When considering substation asset maintenance, I find that there are two common approaches: scheduled maintenance and condition-based monitoring.
Scheduled maintenance is a time-based approach that is still valid and used globally. However, this approach has limitations since it does not monitor assets and key parameters between scheduled physical site visit intervals. This disadvantage can lead to over maintenance or under maintenance of the asset, making it unreliable and increases risks and maintenance costs.
Condition-based monitoring is an approach based on the real-time conditions of the asset and is an optimised approach that significantly improves the reliability of assets. For example, condition-based monitoring of circuit breakers helps build an efficient substation visit and maintenance strategy, which means fewer chances of failures and unplanned downtime.
In the rare case of an asset failure, recorded data allows for detailed diagnostics that significantly reduces the time and costs of repair. Advanced condition monitoring systems like Gomero’s SIPP help accelerate the transition from a scheduled preventive maintenance approach to a reliability centred maintenance strategy, facilitating reductions in risks, and operational costs for inspections, maintenance interventions and repair.
Gomero understands how important the condition monitoring of substation assets is. To address this challenge Gomero has introduced SIPP which is a cost-effective, remote real-time digital condition-based monitoring system that utilises advanced data analytic algorithms to process raw asset data into valuable information through data visualisation, reports and alerts to electricity network operator’s maintenance teams. This solution allows maintenance teams to make more informed maintenance decisions, avoid unplanned maintenance visits and reduce maintenance costs.
Gomero’s SIPP is a scalable and adaptable solution that optimises the use of sensors and measuring instruments that are mostly already deployed within substations. Gomero’s solution can be retrofit deployed onto a variety of substation asset classes and regardless of equipment manufacturers
Summary
With increasing demands on the power grid infrastructure and the continuous development of renewable energy sources, the choice of maintenance strategy becomes a critical factor for power grid operators. Condition-based monitoring offers a future-proof solution that not only reduces costs and the risk of downtime but also contributes to a more sustainable and efficient operation of power substations. By implementing solutions like Gomero's SIPP, power grid companies can address today's and tomorrow's challenges with a more flexible and reliable maintenance strategy.
For more information, contact:
Jasper Spencer
Head of international business development at Gomero
Mail: jasper.spencer@gomero.com