Initiative had been under approval since 2019 with ONS and Aneel

Neoenergia announces the implementation of a pioneering and innovative initiative for the National Interconnected System (SIN): the use of Potential for Auxiliary Services (PVT) transformers for the main supply of auxiliary services at the Nova Ponte 3 Substation, located in Minas Gerais.

The novelty brings gains from a technical point of view and also helps to reduce the environmental impact of the carbon footprint. According to an estimate by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the potential CO2 reduction is as high as 44%.

The initiative was approved after a homologation process, which began in 2019, with the ONS (National Electric System Operator) and Aneel (National Electric Energy Agency).

PVT transformers combine the benefits of a tertiary transformer with the flexibility of installing a potential transformer (PT) or current transformer (CT). Tertiary transformers are used to supply power to the substation's internal systems with stability and reliability. Potential and current transformers, on the other hand, reduce the voltage and current respectively to a value compatible with the capacity of the measuring instruments. In this way, they enable the measuring and protection devices to work properly and safely.

This equipment makes it possible to draw the power supply for auxiliary services directly from the high-voltage network. The initiative replaces other solutions adopted in the past, such as supply from the medium voltage network (RMT) and the use of generator sets (GMG).

"Among the advantages that the adoption of PVT brings to the operation are the high level of reliability and availability of the power supply, independence, economy, low need for maintenance and easy commissioning," explains Lauriberto de Araujo Moraes, an engineer at Neoenergia.