Substation design

The construction of electrical substations is becoming increasingly difficult, so few companies are engaged in the implementation of such projects from A to Z.

Our experts have enough practical experience and knowledge to solve any problems that arise during the construction of these capital-intensive facilities.

Together with our partners, we offer comprehensive electrical design and wiring solutions:

• design of electrical substations of any type;
• design and connection of electrical networks for industrial customers;
• manufacturing and supply of high quality electrical equipment.

Our services include the provision of financing, the development and approval of technical specifications, the preparation of detailed design and working documentation, as well as a full range of construction services, testing and commissioning, operation and maintenance.

Modern substations are technically complex facilities with multi-million dollar investments.

The investment performance is taken into account at each design stage. Obviously, each decision should be optimal in terms of economic indicators.

The optimal solution in each case must satisfy the quality requirements of the designed facility at the lowest possible cost of materials, financial and labor resources.

LBFL is ready to find such a solution for your business.



General requirements for electrical substation include:

• profitability, which is determined by the amount of capital investment, energy losses, annual costs of operation and maintenance;
• reliability, that is, the ability of an object to perform specified functions in a certain volume under certain operating conditions;
• convenience, including the minimum number of electrical connections and the rational arrangement (layout) of electrical equipment;
• the possibility of expanding the substation as the business grows.

The key condition for the successful implementation of the investment project is a comprehensive review of the technical, electrical, construction, transport aspects.

Each subsystem of an electrical substation is very specific and has relatively weak connections with other subsystems. Therefore, in the process of designing an object, local optimization is possible in accordance with the needs and budget of the client.

Substations as the basis of the national energy system

Few people know what an electrical substation is. There are hundreds of thousands of substations in the world that form the basis of our energy system.

Electric current flows through many substations on the way from the manufacturer to the consumer.

A modern power grid can be compared to a road network: there are wide federal highways, rural roads and local access roads that connect our homes. All of them are connected with each other by intersections and bridges.

For the energy system, highways are ultra-high voltage lines with a voltage of hundreds of kilovolts (220, 380 kV). The higher the voltage, the lower the electrical loss in energy transfer.



To transfer electric energy more efficiently over long distances, transformers increase the voltage in power plants.

Then, electricity with minimal losses is transmitted through hundreds of kilometers to the consumption centers.

Due to the smooth operation of substations, electric energy reaches domestic and commercial consumers. Here, high voltage power lines are connected to medium and low voltage lines.

Today, many regions require new and more efficient substations, as the load on the grid is rapidly changing. In addition, more and more electricity is supplied from renewable energy sources - solar power plants, wind power plants and so on.

Planning and placement of electrical substations

LBFL is taking a most comprehensive and thorough approach the planning of an electrical substation, including the selection of a construction site.

To ensure that each new project meets the needs of the investor as much as possible, we employ a multidisciplinary team of specialists with the best design engineers and managers.

At the planning stage, we consider such issues as throughput, stability, load fluctuations, quality indicators and the reliability of the substation in different conditions. We take into account all the individual wishes of the investor, as well as economic and legal factors that affect the project.

Many companies require a long-term forecast because they draw up detailed business development plans for several years to come. Our experts are ready to answer any questions of the investor, based on their experience and thorough research.

As a rule, we offer several options for the construction of an electrical substation, which should be considered from a technical, economic, and environmental point of view.

We take into account the potential negative impact of the project on the local community and the environment, making every effort to minimize them.

Considerations when choosing a substation construction site

One of the most important steps is the selection of a suitable site and the development of a substation service area with convenient access to the equipment.

At this stage, our specialists analyze the condition of the soil, topography, hydrology, etc.

When looking for a suitable place, engineers need to consider a lot of criteria. Convenient location and proximity to the railway are of great importance, because delivery of transformers weighing up to 300 tons may be required.

Environmental, legal, social and political aspects also play an important role.

When choosing a construction site, it is necessary to reach an agreement with local authorities and the community. Local regulations on land use affect the construction and operation of the facilities. Not only engineers, but also lawyers and public relations specialists take an active part in the implementation of the project.

Some considerations when choosing a site for the construction of a substation:

• it is advisable to choose a flat plot of land that does not require expensive earthwork (soil removal, leveling, filling);
• roads should provide unhindered access to heavy construction equipment and trucks;
• the construction site must be reliably protected from possible flooding, therefore specialists avoid wetlands and lowlands;
• the construction of electrical substations and power lines in national parks is undesirable;
• it is necessary to take into account possible interference in communication systems, especially in the vicinity of military bases, radar stations and other special facilities;
• the construction site should be close to sources of water supply and sewage;
• climate, humidity and salt content in the air determines the choice of equipment that is resistant to specific atmospheric influences;
• the construction of powerful substations with strong electromagnetic fields is carried out far from the places of human habitation;
• the construction process is coordinated with the local community in order to avoid protests, vandalism and other troubles;
• when choosing a plot of land, landscape and aesthetic aspects are taken into account.

It should be understood that obtaining the necessary permits in some regions may drag on for months and years. This procedure involves bureaucratic restrictions, public hearings, and the payment of monetary compensation to some neighbors.

The LBFL team will make every effort to make this procedure faster and cheaper.

Electrical substation design

Electrical substation design require experience in the field of construction, mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as extensive knowledge of modern control, monitoring and communication systems.

Electrical substation design services include:

• preparation and analysis of the initial data of the energy project;
• development of a scheme for connecting the substation to the national power grid;
• choosing a basic electrical equipment, electrical calculations and other operations;
• determination of the substation's own energy needs, choosing electric motors and cables;
• design of a substation switchgear, including electrical layouts, protection and grounding;
• design of DC equipment, including the selection of batteries, chargers and recharging devices, the choice of operating current circuit;
• development of control and monitoring devices, relay protection and automation;
• design of a substation electric lighting system;
• design of auxiliary facilities.

The layout of substations requires the correct location of the main equipment and auxiliary facilities on the site.

This is one of the most difficult aspects of project, which requires the participation of a multidisciplinary team of specialists in the field of electrical design, civil engineering, road construction, safety, etc.

Specialists have to consider a huge number of internal and external factors in order to ensure compliance of the facility with the applicable standards.

When choosing substation layout options, the following is taken into account:

• proximity to water sources to reduce the cost of construction of hydraulic structures;
• availability of necessary infrastructure, including access roads, pipelines and power lines;
• convenient location of repair services, workshops, garages and other auxiliary facilities for the operation and maintenance of the facility;
• rational use of the land and minimization of the area occupied by the electrical substation;
• opportunities for further expansion and modernization of the substation.

Finally, our engineers pay great attention to equipment safety issues, including the installation of burglar alarms and video surveillance systems.

Engineering services of our company

Our company, together with its partners, provides design services for substations of any type:

• Generating station's switchyards: large-scale projects that connect the station to the national grid. These are complex systems that are designed during the construction of power plants;

• Customer electrical substations: an individual power supply for a specific commercial customer — an enterprise, office, or shopping center. The design of such facilities is based on the unique requirements and expectations of the customer.

• System substations: objects designed to transmit high power. They serve for switching or converting voltage. System substations ensure the integrity and uninterrupted operation of the national energy system.

• Distribution substation: the main element of distribution electricity networks that directly supply electricity to consumers.

We finance, design and build various types of facilities, including outdoor substations with air-insulated and gas-insulated equipment, mobile electrical substations, etc.

Our experts take into account all applicable standards of the energy project requirements, including the configuration of the energy system, connected loads, stability limits, troubleshooting time, system expansion options, maintainability, etc. The creative design process covers economic, technical, environmental, social, aesthetic and other aspects.

The innovative approach of LBFL provides the freedom to introduce innovative technical solutions.

We free the investor from the limitations of conservative concepts and schemes. By taking a flexible approach, we create new opportunities for your business.

To find out more about our financial and engineering services, contact our representatives at any time.