Grid Modernization

Wildfire Mitigation

Detecting and de-energizing downed and broken overhead conductors is a public safety responsibility and a crucial component of wildfire risk mitigation. SEL technologies reduce these risks and hazards in both transmission and distribution systems.

Wildfire Risk Mitigation for Distribution Systems

Mitigate Fire Risk With SEL Recloser Controls

Use the built-in capabilities of the SEL-651R Advanced Recloser Control and other SEL devices to mitigate wildfire ignition risk.

Instantly adjust reclosing and trip behavior in response to weather conditions or local fire risk. Dedicated settings groups in SEL recloser controls can be activated remotely from a control center to respond in real time to emerging risk assessments. For instance, one settings group could enable faster tripping under high-risk conditions, while another group could also disable reclosing during times of extreme risk.

Trip closer to the fault without complicating protection coordination. SEL recloser controls support High-Density Coordination (HDC), a protection coordination method that enables you to increase the concentration of inline reclosers in your system without the need for traditional overcurrent coordination or communication links between recloser controls. Adding high-speed communications and the SEL Wireless Protection System helps improve fault-locating accuracy, enabling more selective reclosing and faster tripping for faults on laterals.

Use SEL Arc Sense technology (AST) to improve detection of high-impedance faults (HIFs) and downed conductors. When an energized distribution line contacts combustible fuel, such as vegetation, conventional ground overcurrent protection often fails to detect the HIF that may result. Select models of SEL relays—such as the SEL-651R—feature AST, which can detect HIFs and prevent dangerous arcing.

Applying AST closer to the potential fault improves dependability, and with AST available as an optional feature in the SEL-651R, you can apply effective HIF detection throughout your distribution system.

Comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Solutions

SEL works closely with our customers to design and implement turnkey solutions for wildfire risk mitigation. Contact SEL to talk with our professional engineers about how we can meet your needs.

Falling-Conductor Detection

Our innovative falling-conductor solution uses synchrophasor data to detect and de-energize broken overhead conductors within one second—less than the time it takes a broken conductor to fall 25 feet (7.62 meters). De-energizing the affected line section while the conductor is still falling eliminates the risk of an arcing ground fault or energized circuits on the ground.

Designed for application in wide-area distribution systems, including single-, two-, and three-phase circuits, the system is easy to modify and expand when additional feeders or phasor measurement units are added.

Learn more about falling-conductor mitigation.

De-Energize Falling Conductors in Midair

Watch the falling-conductor mitigation solution, step by step.

Wildfire Risk Mitigation for Transmission Systems

The broken-conductor detection function in the SEL-411L Advanced Line Differential Protection, Automation, and Control System detects conductor breaks in transmission or subtransmission overhead lines.

Advanced logic in the SEL-411L allows the relay to identify a broken conductor, trip the line before it hits the ground, adaptively block reclosing onto a permanent fault, and estimate the location of the break.

In addition to broken-conductor detection, SEL relays identify potential cable failures—helping to extend asset life, minimize unexpected downtime, and reduce the likelihood of overhead conductors falling to ground.

Learn more about broken-conductor detection.

Partnership and Innovation

San Diego Gas & Electric and SEL partner to mitigate wildfire risk in California.

Read the story 

A Partner for Any Modernization Project

SEL offers modernization solutions and services for any part of the grid, scaled to your needs. We design electric power systems, coordinate procurement and construction, manufacture relays, build panels, and install and commission protection and control systems.

Partner with us on individual projects or multiyear modernization programs.

  • Simplicity at Every Stage—Streamline your grid modernization program with a single PO. We offer a single-vendor solution for the entire process—from design and permitting through building, installation, and commissioning. This simplifies budgeting, project management, and timelines, ensuring on-time delivery.
  • Advanced Technology—SEL solutions offer the fastest protection available. They also improve systemwide visibility and control through cybersecure remote engineering access, automated event collection, and precise fault location, among other benefits.
  • Access to Experts and Product Support—Engineering support is available to you before, during, and after a project. After commissioning, you receive 24/7 support from SEL application engineers. Technical support is available for the lifetime of every SEL device at no cost.
  • Reduced Total Cost of Ownership—Our simplified project management approach, advanced technology, and expert support lower your O&M costs in the short term and for the entire life of your modernized system.

More Grid Modernization Solutions

Protection and Control System Modernization

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

Distribution Automation and Management

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

Renewable Energy Integration

Integrate renewables and distributed energy resources while ensuring grid reliability.

Grid Stability and Wide-Area Monitoring

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

Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure

Layered cybersecurity defenses keep your critical infrastructure secure.

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 worldwide corps of application engineers provides 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 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.

Security Bulletins and Updates

We notify product owners of updates and security patches for the full life of the product. Software and firmware updates are distributed directly to our customers via secure file transfer.

More About Security Notifications

Training and Education

SEL meets your workforce training and continuing-education needs through seminars, conference and tradeshow presentations, and technical training courses.

We can also work with you to develop training that is customized to the specific needs of your workforce.

Warranty and Support

SEL product warranty—plus how to return a product or contact tech support.

Security Notifications and Updates

Stay informed on cyber vulnerabilities and keep your SEL products up-to-date.

SEL System and Product Certifications

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

Cybersecurity Solutions

Solutions and services that help you implement and maintain layered cybersecurity defenses.

Related Content

Technical Papers

Webinars

Flyers

Questions? Contact Us!

If you have any questions about SEL products, services, solutions, or support, please contact us. Our service and support professionals are ready to provide the answers you need.

Unbeatable Support

SEL support teams are stationed in regional offices around the world and staffed with application engineers who are experts in our products and in power system applications.

Technical support for SEL-manufactured devices is always free. No matter how often you need to call or how long your SEL products have been in service, you’ll reach an SEL expert who can provide the service and support you need.

Our cybersecurity team is always ready with the information and resources needed to keep your OT networks and critical systems secure and working effectively. Cyber services support contracts can include incident response, audits, system hardening, and more, depending on your anticipated needs.

More about SEL warranty and support