Next generation 12kV primary electricity distribution systems serving critical infrastructure or commercial and industrial applications target unprecedented intelligence, integration and resilience to harsh atmospheric conditions, as well as other natural or malevolent events. Fundamental to the overall evolution towards Smart-enabled systems, this capability is required in order to protect assets and operations, optimise stability to mitigate devastating power outages, efficiently integrate renewables and more generally minimise system losses.

In contrast to existing 12kV primary switchgear - which are circuit breakers with 3-position disconnectors mounted at every network node, usually within indoor switch-rooms or vaults - next generation hardware must be fully-integrated, functionalised for intelligent for remote/automatic operation, robust against phase-to-phase faults, environmentally inert and isolated, compact and maintenance-free.

No existing technology simultaneously meets all these requirements, confirmed by systems end users and systems integrators. In direct response to this need, Elmecon working with SPE Energy aim to fill this void through their disruptive GENiSYS technology platform for Smart-enabled high performance swichgear.