Solutions

Utility Grid Modernization

SEL provides grid modernization solutions that improve reliability, resiliency, and readiness for future demand—at any scale.

The electric power grid is an engineering marvel—the largest, most complex machine ever built—but aging systems designed to meet 20th century needs are straining under 21st century demands. The shift toward renewable energy and the accelerating electrification of transportation and economic activity demand upgrades to the grid and the systems that protect and control it.

Our Solutions

Smart solutions that improve the reliability and resiliency of every part of the grid.

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Our Approach

Streamlined program management, expert engineering, and solutions scaled to your needs.

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Partnership and Support

A global network of application engineers supports every SEL solution.

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Grid Modernization Solutions

From targeted upgrades to multiyear modernization programs, SEL provides advanced technology, expert engineering, and project and program support that prepare utility grids for tomorrow’s demands.

As the company that introduced the world’s first digital protective relays to the market, the first to integrate phasor measurement unit (PMU) functionality into our devices, and now with software-based solutions on our secure, scalable Blueframe platform, SEL has been optimizing the performance, safety, and economy of electric power through smart grid technologies from the very beginning.

We continue to invent the future with the world’s fastest line protective relay, the SEL-T401L, which uses traveling-wave and incremental-quantity-based principles to provide tripping speeds as fast as 1–2 milliseconds and locate faults to within a single tower span.

Why Is Grid Modernization Important?

Modernizing the systems that protect and control the electrical grid allows utilities to increase operational flexibility, improve reliability, and optimize asset life and power quality.

With modernized smart grid systems, electric utilities can:

Minimize fault-related outages by automatically isolating a faulted line segment and reconfiguring the grid to restore service.
Integrate renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, while maintaining grid reliability.
Ensure grid stability through wide-area transmission monitoring and control.
Defend and protect against cyber attacks.
Improve protection of people, equipment, and the environment.

Custom Panels and Enclosures

Designed, assembled, wired, and tested to meet your application needs.

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Protection and Control System Modernization

Increase operational flexibility, improve reliability, and optimize asset life and power quality.

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Distribution Automation and Management

Minimize fault-related outages and automatically reconfigure the grid to restore service.

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Renewable Energy Integration

Integrate renewables and distributed energy resources while ensuring grid reliability.

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Grid Stability and Wide-Area Monitoring

Protection, monitoring, and control solutions that ensure transmission grid stability.

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Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure

Layered cybersecurity defenses keep your critical infrastructure secure.

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Wildfire Mitigation

Mitigate wildfire ignition risks with solutions that detect downed and broken conductors.

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Line Protection

Improve system stability and security with SEL line protection solutions.

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The SEL Approach

SEL offers a simpler, leaner approach to modernization programs, with a single PO for the entire process—from design and permitting through building, installation, and commissioning. This simplifies project management, budgeting, and timelines, ensuring on-time delivery.

You have access to SEL engineering experts throughout the entire process, from design through commissioning—and even after the modernization projects are complete. Our global corps of application engineers provide technical support for the entire lifetime of every SEL-manufactured device, at no additional cost.

It all adds up not only to smoother program implementation, but also to lower O&M costs for the entire life of the modernized system.

When you partner with SEL on a modernization program, you have access to our engineering experts before, during, and after all the projects are done.

SEL Engineering Services can assist with everything from protection studies and system modeling to design, procurement, installation, and commissioning.

We use advanced modeling and simulation, informed by decades of power engineering experience, to analyze system requirements, validate full system designs, and optimize the performance of the grid through the devices that protect and control it.

After your modernized systems are commissioned, whenever technical questions arise and devices need service, we’ll be ready to help. We support every device we manufacture and every system we design for the entirety of its lifecycle.

SEL customer service reps and application engineers are stationed in regional offices across North America and around the world, so you can always count on reaching a friendly, knowledgeable human who can connect you with the resources you need.

In the nearly 40 years since SEL introduced the first microprocessor-based digital relays to the market, we have been relentlessly focused on quality and reliability.

SEL products are designed and manufactured for the world’s most challenging environments. Whether they’re installed in a control house, on a line pole, or in the substation yard, you can be sure your SEL devices are up to the challenge.

Rugged and Reliable Devices—Guaranteed

With a field-observed mean time between failures (MTBF) of more than 1,000 years, SEL electronic devices exceed all industry standards for temperature, shock, and electric stress.* An optional conformal coating for circuit boards adds an extra level of protection against contaminants in extreme environments.

SEL devices are designed for a working life of at least 20 years, and every SEL-manufactured device comes with a ten-year warranty—the best in the electric power industry. If it fails under warranty, repair and replacement are free.

We always do all that we can to repair any returned product, whether it meets our warranty or not.

*This MTBF metric was calculated in April 2023.

Our mission is not only to sell products and systems, but also to ensure that everyone has access to safe, reliable electric power.

This is why, from the company’s first sale in 1984 to becoming North America’s most trusted manufacturer of protective relays and a global leader in electric power engineering, we have always treated our customers not merely as buyers, but as partners.

Whatever the scale of the project may be—from targeted upgrades to systemwide modernization programs—we make sure the concept and fundamentals are sound and then develop a solution that fits your needs.

After your modernized systems are installed, SEL application engineers provide thorough training in all products applied in them, ensuring that you are able to achieve your operational goals once a system is in place.

It’s our goal to ensure that every solution we provide enables you to achieve your operational goals throughout its designed lifespan.

The SEL Quality Philosophy

See how we ensure the quality and reliability of the devices we manufacture.

SEL System and Product Certifications

SEL systems, processes, and products are certified to internationally recognized standards.

Engineering Services

Modernize the grid with custom-engineered, turnkey solutions and services.

Partnership and Support

We believe you should never have to worry about whether your protection and control systems will be working when you need them most. That’s why you always have access to SEL engineers—and every device we manufacture comes with a ten-year warranty and free technical support.

After your modernized systems are commissioned, our application engineers provide technical support for SEL products at no cost.

As long as your SEL products remain in service, you have free access to direct technical support from SEL engineers—not just a handful of customer-facing product engineers, but a large corps of application engineers who are intimately familiar with the way our devices are deployed and the systems they support in the field.

Customer support staff and application engineers are stationed in regional offices across North America and around the world.

No matter how often you need to call or how long your SEL products have been in service, our customer service and technical support professionals are ready to help.

SEL offers complete cybersecurity support for every solution, system, and product we provide.

We also practice secure supply chain management and help our customers comply with applicable supply chain and cybersecurity standards (for instance, NERC CIP-013 for certain North American utilities).

Security Bulletins and Updates

We thoroughly review and test the code in our products, which allows us greater control over their quality, security, and functionality. We issue updates and security patches whenever necessary, for the full life of every SEL product.

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Cybersecurity Services and Support

From system assessment and baselining to cyber-defense solution development and ongoing system management, our full suite of security services can help strengthen your defenses and streamline the demands of maintenance and compliance.

Cyber services support contracts can include incident response, audits, system hardening, patch/update management, and more.

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We partner with our customers to develop training customized to the specific needs of their workforce.

SEL also meets the electric power industry’s training and continuing-education needs through seminars, conference and tradeshow presentations, and technical training courses.

Many SEL courses and seminars provide professional development hours (PDHs) for maintaining Professional Engineering (P.E.) licenses.

Training and education offerings: