News & Events
News & Events
News & Events

InnoBlog: Electric power engineering – what is inside a substation?

This blog is part of a 2-part series on the components of our electrical grid: the lines and cables, which transport electricity, and the substations, which process the power. So, what is inside a substation?

The substation

The substation plays a key role in the electric grid by serving as a point that brings together power lines and controls several key functions. It maintains voltage, frequency and current, and contains protection systems in case of a failure or issue.

 

They can be located outside or inside, depending on their proximity to urban centres. When my Power Grid Technology class from KTH Royal Institute of Technology visited Skanstull, one of the main substations that feeds Stockholm, we were able to see all the components of a substation and how they work together to reliably and safely deliver power.