A panoramic view of the substation.

Staff operate rail robot for monitoring.

Real-time monitoring screen.

Ordos' Erzihao 500 kilovolts transmission substation, the first digital twin intelligent substation of Inner Mongolia Power (Group) Co, was completed and put into operation on Nov 26.

This is not only a major effort to increase the "digitalization" level of the main power grid, but also a great way to build a new power system.

In the second equipment area of the substation in Ordos, the rail robot is monitoring all the protection, measurement and control screen cabinets in the equipment area along the track. The robot can rotate 360 degrees and freely telescope up and down. The data collected from monitoring all the devices from various angles and fire warnings will be uploaded to the main control room in real time to realize digital centralized control.

The substation uses a three-dimensional information model based on associated operation and maintenance data to build a real-time three-dimensional scene. This enables the visualization of 3D scenes and supports applications such as intelligent operations, inspections, safety management, and other maintenance activities.

In addition, high-definition video, robots, and other front-end collection devices are used to analyze equipment conditions, personnel behavior, and the onsite environment within the substation. This approach enables the early detection of equipment defects and failures, reducing safety risks on-site, enhancing operational efficiency, and lowering maintenance costs.

The substation involves a total investment of 415.3 million yuan ($57.23 million) and covers an area of 6.77 hectares. It will support multiple large industrial load projects in Dalad Banner, including the coal power and aluminum, chemical engineering, building materials, metallurgy, machinery processing, energy chemicals, and new materials industries.