Case Studies Using Fault Circuit Indicators and Wireless M2M Communications at Hawaiian Electric

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	Using Fault Circuit Indicators and Wireless M2M Communications at Hawaiian Electric

Using Fault Circuit Indicators and Wireless M2M Communications at Hawaiian Electric

Technology Category	Networks & Connectivity - Ethernet Networks & Connectivity - RF Transceivers
Applicable Industries	Utilities
Applicable Functions	Facility Management Maintenance
Use Cases	Energy Management System Predictive Maintenance Remote Asset Management
Services	Hardware Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	HECO faced the challenge of improving customer satisfaction by mitigating or responding to power outages more quickly. The island's growing population increased load requirements, necessitating a reliable data network for various automation purposes. However, the rough terrain, unpredictable weather, and remote locations of the equipment required a flexible yet reliable M2M communications technology that could transmit data over long distances and was not exceedingly costly to deploy. Read More
About Customer	Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) has been providing electric power for over 100 years, serving 95% of Hawaii's 1.2 million residents across the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Lanai, and Molokai. HECO, along with its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company, has played a crucial role in the islands' evolution into modern, efficient communities. As the population grew, so did the load requirements, making it essential for HECO to adopt advanced technologies to ensure reliable power distribution and customer satisfaction. Read More
Solution	FreeWave Technologies, in partnership with Power Delivery Products, Inc., provided the Smart Navigator FCI sensors and installed an M2M network using FreeWave’s FGR2-PE radios for long-range wireless data communications. The FGR2-PE radios offer simple Ethernet connectivity, industrial-grade security, superior RF link performance, and integrated network manageability. They can transmit data up to 60 miles Line of Sight (LOS), ensuring fast identification of faults. Embedding M2M communications within the FCI system allows HECO operators to react quickly to prevent major blackouts and narrow down problems along the power line, maximizing uptime and preventing power delivery issues. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Ethernet

Networks & Connectivity - RF Transceivers

Applicable Industries

Utilities

Applicable Functions

Facility Management

Maintenance

Use Cases

Energy Management System

Predictive Maintenance

Remote Asset Management

Services

Hardware Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

HECO faced the challenge of improving customer satisfaction by mitigating or responding to power outages more quickly. The island's growing population increased load requirements, necessitating a reliable data network for various automation purposes. However, the rough terrain, unpredictable weather, and remote locations of the equipment required a flexible yet reliable M2M communications technology that could transmit data over long distances and was not exceedingly costly to deploy.

About Customer

Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) has been providing electric power for over 100 years, serving 95% of Hawaii's 1.2 million residents across the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Lanai, and Molokai. HECO, along with its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company, has played a crucial role in the islands' evolution into modern, efficient communities. As the population grew, so did the load requirements, making it essential for HECO to adopt advanced technologies to ensure reliable power distribution and customer satisfaction.

Solution

FreeWave Technologies, in partnership with Power Delivery Products, Inc., provided the Smart Navigator FCI sensors and installed an M2M network using FreeWave’s FGR2-PE radios for long-range wireless data communications. The FGR2-PE radios offer simple Ethernet connectivity, industrial-grade security, superior RF link performance, and integrated network manageability. They can transmit data up to 60 miles Line of Sight (LOS), ensuring fast identification of faults. Embedding M2M communications within the FCI system allows HECO operators to react quickly to prevent major blackouts and narrow down problems along the power line, maximizing uptime and preventing power delivery issues.

Impact #1	FreeWave was the first wireless M2M communications provider able to establish a reliable data communications link in the harsh terrain on Oahu.
Impact #2	The difficult terrains and challenging installation of FCIs on Oahu posed no threat to the functionality of the network comprised of FreeWave’s FGR2-PE solutions.
Impact #3	By installing FCIs throughout the island of Oahu, HECO can now mitigate power outages or issues along the power line and address issues faster and more efficiently.

Impact #1

FreeWave was the first wireless M2M communications provider able to establish a reliable data communications link in the harsh terrain on Oahu.

Impact #2

The difficult terrains and challenging installation of FCIs on Oahu posed no threat to the functionality of the network comprised of FreeWave’s FGR2-PE solutions.

Impact #3

By installing FCIs throughout the island of Oahu, HECO can now mitigate power outages or issues along the power line and address issues faster and more efficiently.

Benefit #1	FCIs have been deployed across the entire island of Oahu.

Benefit #1

FCIs have been deployed across the entire island of Oahu.

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Overview

Using Fault Circuit Indicators and Wireless M2M Communications at Hawaiian Electric

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit