Big Network Renovation: DTEK Odesa Grids to complete the Krymskaya substation reconstruction
The company is modernizing the Krymskaya substation without disconnecting subscribers, therefore it does not cause discomfort for the Odesa people. After a complete reconstruction, 46,000 customers, including the Odesa Regional Clinic, maternity hospital No. 4, as well as schools and kindergartens, will be reconnected to the new switchgear of the substation.
“DTEK is a reliable and conscious company. Stable operation of substations means that people have lights on and comfort. The Krymskaya substation was built in 1968. For more than 50 years, the equipment has become obsolete, and the capacity has become insufficient to fully meet the needs of our customers. After the reconstruction, the capacity of the substation will increase by 23%. The total investment in the project is UAH 122 million,” says Oleksandr Fomenko, General Director at DTEK Odesa Grids.
Reconstruction of the Krymskaya substation started in 2019. The energy company plans to complete all work by the end of 2021. New equipment has already been installed at the substation - two modern 63 MVA transformers, which provide an additional 23% of the capacity. Modern vacuum circuit breakers with microprocessor protection manufactured by Siemens have been installed. Thus, in the event of an emergency, only its damaged part will be localized, not the entire network. In addition, they are harmless to the environment and meet the highest fire safety requirements.
The substation will be fully remotely controlled. That is, control will be implemented both on site and from the main control room. This will allow to quickly record emergency failures and eliminate their consequences without disconnecting customers from the power supply.
In 2021, DTEK Odesa Grids will invest 888.8 million hryvnia in the development of networks across the Odesa region. This is 86% more than last year. Investments in Ukraine’s electricity grids have increased significantly thanks to incentive investments RAB tariffs - a new approach to tariff setting for electricity distribution, adopted in Ukraine in 2021. Following the example of the state program Big Construction, the operators of the country's electricity distribution system have launched the Big Network Renovation. For these funds, DTEK Odesa Grids, among other things, will reconstruct the Krymskaya substation.