What is a Substation & What Does It Do? - Kasa Building Group

A substation is a key component of the electrical grid and plays a vital role in transforming and delivering power to different applications and regions across the country. For example, some applications require low voltage to which the substation will convert high voltage to low voltage, vice a versa from low to high. They also provide a platform to interconnect different voltage types, much like an intersection on the road.

Substations generally are or can be remotely managed from anywhere in the world. It is generally preferred to lower overheads and gives the company or Government Agency responsible even more reason to build the infrastructure remotely on land that is cheaper to purchase and maintain.

Other factors are also in play as to the location of the where the substation will be constructed. These range from minimizing flood zones & tropical storms. There are substations in coastal areas and within these zones, however special considerations are taken when planning the project such as elevation, gas insulated switchgear and ensuring the correct land size can be attained to best ensure clearances are met in and around it’s transformers. Other considerations for locations are that of security, safety and protection against vandalism and/or sabotage.

Substations are rated and built for different capacities; these are measured generally in kVA. You may see numbers and abbreviations beside a substations name in the paper or on the news such as 4×1200 kVA. This means that internally the substation contains 4 transformers each with the capacity to handle a peak power demand of 1200kVA each. Thus, giving the substation a total power capacity of 4800 kVA. There are many more classifications & abbreviations in the substation world which define a substations purpose, including which substations are fed by other substations at a different kVA rating.  

Are there different types of Substations?

• Transmission substation
• Distribution substation
• Collector substation
• Converter substation
• Switching station
• Railways
• Mobile substation

How does Australia Classify Substations?

• Step-up & Primary Substation
• Primary-grid Substation
• Second Substation
• Step-down & Distribution Substation
• Bulk Supply Substation
• Mobile Substation