Central Electricity Authority approves the Uniform Protection Protocol for users of the Indian Grid for implementation on Pan India basis – EQ
In Short : The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has approved the Uniform Protection Protocol for users of the Indian electricity grid, marking a significant step towards standardizing grid protection across the country. This protocol will be implemented on a pan-India basis, aiming to enhance grid stability, prevent power outages, and improve the overall reliability and security of the national electricity grid. The uniform protocol will ensure consistent protection mechanisms for both transmission and distribution networks.
In Detail : National Power Committee (NPC) in consultation with RPCs prepared the Uniform Protection Protocol for users of Indian Grid for implementation on Pan India basis . The same was approved in 15th National Power Committee Meeting held on 14.11.2024 at Nagpur, Maharashtra under the chairmanship of Shri Ghansyam Prasad, Chairperson, CEA.
The meeting was attended by high level dignitaries of Power sector : Shri Hemant Jain, Member (GO&D), CEA, Shri Mr. S R Narasimhan, Chairman & Managing Director of Grid-India, Chairpersons of Regional Power Committees/Technical Coordination Committees of RPCs, Member Secretaries of RPCs and NPC, and Representatives from CTU and CEA.
As per IEGC, 2023 , a uniform protection protocol to be there for the users of the grid for proper co-ordination of protection system in order to protect the equipment/system from abnormal operating conditions, isolate the faulty equipment and avoid unintended operation of protection system.
The Uniform protection protocol aims to ensure Grid stability, reliability, security and also greatly supports the Government of India’s vision for integration of 450 GW Renewable Energy into the National Grid by 2030 and ambitious target of 2100 GW of Renewable energy by 2047.
Key features of the Uniform Protection Protocol:
- Applicability: The Uniform Protection Protocol shall be applicable to all Regional entities, State/Central/Private Generating Companies/ Generating Stations, SLDCs, RLDCs, CTU, STUs, Transmission Licensees and RPCs, connected at 220 kV (132 kV for NER) and above.
- General Philosophy of Protection System: The General Philosophy of Protection System covers the Objective, Design Criterion and other details.
- Protection Schemes: This Protocol addresses the protection requirements for thermal and hydro generating units, renewable energy generations (REGs), battery energy storage system (BESS), substations, transmission lines, and HVDC terminals.
- Monitoring and Audits:
Disturbance Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting: The Purpose is to ensure that adequate disturbance data is available to facilitate Grid event analysis. The analysis of power system disturbances is an important function that monitors the performance of protection system, which can provide information related to correct behavior of the system, adoption of safe operating limits, isolation of incipient faults.
Protection Audits: As per the Central Electricity Authority (Grid Standards) Regulations, 2010, IEGC Grid Code Regulations 2023 and approved SOP for Protection System Audit.
Performance Monitoring: Monthly submission of protection performance indices by users/entities to RPCs and RLDCs. - Compliance Monitoring: Non-compliance is reported to RPCs, and unresolved violations are escalated to the Commission for suitable directions.
During this meeting, various other key issues of Indian Power Sector such as transition to Five (5) minute Interface Energy Meters along with AMR system for PAN India, Unified Accounting Software for Energy Transactions, SOP for VOIP connectivity, Unified Real Time Dynamic State Measurement (URTDSM) project phase-II, MPLS Technology in ISTS Communication, Solution towards SCADA & Real Time data mismatch, Establishment of State-of- the-Art National Unified Network Management System (N-UNMS) in main & backup configuration integrating all the regional UNMSs, SOPs for Protection Audit, GD/GI/Tripping, Communication Audit of substations, Communication system outage planning of Indian Power System were also deliberated and further course of actions decided.
