Big Network Renovation: a substation to be reconstructed on the Left Bank of Dnipro for more than 34,000 customers

“DTEK is a business that serves the Ukraine’s interests. This year we are investing more than UAH 21 million in the KL substation upgrade in Dnipro, and in a major renovation of the lines. It is now possible to implement such large-scale projects thanks to the investment incentive RAB tariffs introduced in 2021. Thus, our company could increase investments in the region's energy infrastructure by 34% compared to 2020. This means that we will do more changes to improve the quality and reliability of power supply for hundreds of thousands of our customers in Dnipro and the region,” says Andrii Tereshchuk, Director General for DTEK Dnipro Grids.

For the KL substation to work more reliably and stably, a 150 kV power transformer was replaced there. This is a unit with a height of over 6 meters and a weight of 86 tons. The dismantled transformer had exhausted its resource and couldn’t provide for the voltage regulation when changing loads any longer. The new one will improve the reliability of power supply, automatically regulate the voltage level in the network, and, hence, deliver high-quality electricity to end consumers.

“Reconstruction of this backbone substation will ensure uninterrupted and high-quality power supply to almost 35,000 subscribers: residents of the left bank, industrial enterprises (Interpipe NTZ and others). Energy-intensive projects such as the industrial park under construction and Dnipro Light Flowers art objects will also be able to obtain stable high power. This is one of the important energy projects for the city within the Big Network Renovation, which allows modernizing the lines and electrical equipment in Dnipro in line with the needs of its residents,” says Mikhail Lysenko, Deputy Mayor of Dnipro.

There is a new power transformer equipped with a modern automatic voltage regulation system installed at the substation. According to the given algorithm, it independently determines when it is required to increase and when to lower the voltage level in the network. Now, adjustment of automation and relay protection are ongoing. In addition, a completely new oil receiver and oil collector were built. Thus, the transformer oil will not get into the ground causing no harm to our environment. Also, a new category 1 electrical substation with a capacity of 16.5 MW will be powered from the KL substation overhead lines. This will provide the industrial park and city art objects of Dnipro Light Flowers with uninterrupted and high-quality voltage.

In total, this year the company is investing more than UAH 1 billion in the development of electrical infrastructure. In addition to the substation in Dnipro, within the Big Network Renovation project, DTEK Dnipro Grids began the reconstruction of a large 150 kV Hrushevskaya substation in Marganets this year. They have also completely replaced more than 249 kilometers of power lines and re-equipped 1,200 distribution points and transformer substations.