How SynchroGuard Transforms Grid Operations
Our solutions focus primarily on distribution grids, catering to public utilities like Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), as well as private operators managing medium-voltage (MV) networks for critical infrastructures and major energy consumers, such as hospitals, airports, industrial sites and data centers.
The SynchroGuard platform supports multiple utility applications
- network operations
- outage management
- grid planning
- preventive maintenance
- asset management
SynchroGuard integrates seamlessly with existing SCADA systems, augmenting traditional monitoring with advanced analytics and real-time insights, without interrupting established workflows.
- 1
Real-time Grid Monitoring & Supervision
Obtain full grid observability in real-time, including the estimation of the status of substations not directly monitored. This allows for proactive management and predictive maintenance, all with a limited investment in substation equipment.
Observability on MV grids is often limited to primary substations. The increasing penetration of Distributed Renewable Energies (DERs) creates bidirectional flows and increased unpredictability, making real-time understanding of the network difficult.
By installing a limited number of PMUs in strategic nodes (only 10-20% measurement coverage), SynchroGuard uses PMU-based state estimation to provide comprehensive visibility on voltages, current/power flows and phase angles in real-time. This data can be visualized in your existing SCADA.
- 2
Outage Management (FLISR)
Drastically reduce the duration and frequency of blackouts. Automatic fault location allows for rapid dispatchment of crews or automation of FLISR (Fault Location, Isolation, Service Restoration) schemes. This directly improves power supply continuity and helps avoid penalties.
Ageing grid infrastructure and extreme weather conditions, among others, reduce network reliability and regulatory pressure to improve performance indicators (SAIDI/SAIFI) is increasing. Locating faults can sometimes take days without the right information.
SynchroGuard enables automatic and precise fault location in less than a second, using novel techniques based on PMUs. This works for all types of faults (permanent, incipient, single-phase, multi-phase) and different neutral treatment conditions, with a typical accuracy of 100m. Alerts can be integrated into SCADA/ADMS systems.
- 3
Power Quality Monitoring
Automatic root-cause identification and analysis is possible thanks to PMU measurement synchronization. The solution allows monitoring and managing power quality without massive equipment investments.
The integration of inverter-based resources (like solar PV) creates voltage issues which undermine system reliability, and national and international regulations require compliancy with Power Quality (PQ) Std.
SynchroGuard detects and classifies voltage and frequency events (dips, swells, interruptions) based on PMU measurements. It monitors key PQ KPIs (voltage profiles, unbalances, etc.) even in substations not directly equipped with PMUs thanks to estimation. Periodic analysis reports can be generated.
- 4
Congestion Management
Rapidly identify grid bottlenecks and prioritize reinforcement or expansion of the most congested areas. This facilitates the integration of renewables and helps avoid costly network reinforcements.
Distribution grids, often designed several decades ago, are not capable of coping with the increasing electrification trends and integration of DERs. Grid managers are often not aware of actual congestion until a failure happens.
SynchroGuard monitors congestions on transformers and lines through state estimation. It provides real-time alerts in case of dangerous conditions and generates periodic analysis reports.
- 5
Predictive & Condition Based Maintenance
Anticipate failures before they occur, evaluate time to failure and optimize maintenance scheduling using real-time data, historical trends and intelligent analytics. Improve asset longevity, reduce unplanned outages and cut operational costs with minimal additional infrastructure.
Traditional maintenance strategies are often reactive or follow fixed schedules, leading to inefficient resource use and a higher risk of unexpected failures. In modern distribution grids, especially with increased DER integration, incipient faults, such as partial discharges, insulation degradation, or intermittent contact issues, etc., can go unnoticed until they cause major disruptions.
SynchroGuard uses high-resolution PMU data in combination with machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to detect early signs of asset degradation and incipient faults. These include anomalies such as voltage and current oscillations, unbalances, harmonic distortions, or unusual phase angle shifts. By identifying subtle deviations from normal grid behavior, SynchroGuard enables predictive maintenance with actionable insights. Utilities can schedule interventions based on asset condition rather than time, improving grid reliability and reducing maintenance costs.
- 6
Parallel Switching Operations
Estimation-based synchrocheck verification is possible at any node in the network. Automatic estimation of circulating currents allows limiting power losses and voltage variations. This functionality integrates seamlessly with existing SCADA/ADMS systems.
Reconnection of grid portions supplied by two HV-MV substations can generate synchronization issues, unwanted circulating currents and potentially damage equipment.
By installing a limited number of PMUs (at least in HV-MV substations and ideally in some strategic MV-LV substations), SynchroGuard performs PMU-based synchrocheck verification to avoid protection misoperations. It also allows automatic estimation of circulating currents.
Other Key Applications
SynchroGuard is a horizontal platform that enables many other use cases, thus offering added value for different teams within your organization. This includes:
Planned outage optimization
Hosting capacity calculation
Asset health monitoring
TSO / DSO Coordination
Short and long-term planning
Adaptive/centralized protections
Digital twin
Post-mortem analysis
Unintentional islanding detection
SynchroGuard provides the fundamental data and algorithms that improve the efficiency, reliability and resilience of your network for all these applications. The solution is designed to be simple to install and use, which is crucial given the lack of resources and expertise network operators often face.