Schneider Electric Advances Virtual Substations for Enhanced Grid Flexibility and Efficiency

Schneider Electric is pioneering virtual substations as a key component of digital grid modernization, aimed at enhancing power grid flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability. These virtual substations centralize critical functions in software, enabling remote management of control schemes and reducing reliance on physical infrastructure. This leads to simplified maintenance and lower operational expenses. Virtual substations replace traditional Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) with software, enhancing operational flexibility. Real-time data analytics enable accurate demand forecasting and grid optimization, while decentralized intelligence improves reliability and mitigates outage risks. These substations also facilitate the management of intermittent renewable energy sources, ensuring seamless integration of new energy flows. Schneider Electric has collaborated with RTE on lab-based testing and has begun field testing in secondary substations. The vPAC Alliance promotes collaboration among utilities and technology providers to accelerate the adoption of virtual substations. At DISTRIBUTECH 2025, Schneider Electric showcased the PowerLogic P7 protection and control platform, designed to run protection and control applications in both physical and virtualized environments. The PowerLogic T500 serves as a primary substation Remote Terminal Unit (RTU), data concentrator, and communications processor, integrating OT systems seamlessly. These advancements reflect a move towards software-defined architectures that promise greater adaptability and resilience in managing increasingly complex and dynamic power systems.