IIT Bhubaneswar has taken a major step toward indigenising power system technology by developing and commissioning an advanced digital substation with a Centralised Monitoring and Protection (CPM) system at its 33/11 kV campus substation.
This innovation enables real-time monitoring and protection of the Institute’s entire electrical distribution network, marking a milestone in India’s smart grid journey.
Shri Vishal Kumar Dev, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and E&IT Department, Government of Odisha, inaugurated the substation in the presence of Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar. Other dignitaries included Dr Satyapriya Ratha, IAS, Managing Director, GRIDCO, Prof. S. R. Samantaray, Project Investigator, and Mr Rutupurna Mansingh, Deputy GM (Electrical), GRIDCO.
The project, executed under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) of the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bengaluru, within the Ministry of Power, was led by Prof. S. R. Samantaray of the Department of Electrical Engineering. He and his team designed and demonstrated a CPM system capable of integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).
Unlike conventional substations, the indigenous framework uses intelligent merging units, eliminating the need for physical Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs). Moreover, the architecture lays the foundation for a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) embedded within the CPM framework, thereby enhancing grid intelligence, flexibility, and reliability.
By commissioning this digital substation, IIT Bhubaneswar has reinforced its commitment to advancing smart grid technologies, promoting sustainable energy infrastructure, and aligning with national energy priorities.
