More and more transmission grid operators are also taking advantage of the increasing digitisation in the energy world for their grids and substations. The process bus technology used represents a challenging paradigm shift – both for protection technology and for station automation. Switching to a digital substation offers many advantages, but sometimes it also brings technological hurdles that have to be overcome.

The most important difference when comparing a conventional substation with a digital one is the copper cabling that is required between the transformer house, outdoor cubicle and primary technology. It is not required with process bus technology, and is therefore an important argument for a digital substation due to the conservation of resources.