HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In current months, there have been a number of profitable and tried assaults on U.S. electrical energy transmission substations. While these could appear to be remoted incidents, there isn’t any assure there will not be extra makes an attempt. With the frequency of assaults rising, electrical firms have taken steps to mitigate threats and scale back challenges to the nation’s energy grid.

Attacks on substations are of excessive concern as a result of harm they trigger to transformers, that are a vital part of energy grids. Protecting these property is vital as a result of they’re advanced and custom-built, which suggests it takes appreciable time and sources to acquire, safe and preserve them. An Alabama-based firm Observation Without Limits (O.W.L.) has developed the know-how (GroundAware® radar techniques) to assist utility firms shield in opposition to orchestrated energy grid assaults and routine intrusions leading to thefts, vandalism and different harm.

In March 2014, The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an Order on Reliability Standards for Physical Security Measures, which led the North American Energy Reliability Corporation (NERC) to problem an ordinary for addressing potential dangers as a result of bodily safety threats. Utility firms have been directed to guage threats and make modifications to site-specific safety plans to guard in opposition to threats.

For greater than six years, the power sector has been updating regional monitoring, as recognized by means of the CIP-014 Threat and Vulnerability Assessment, and implementing perimeter safety techniques at vital websites. 

For compliance with CIP-014 and to guard substations that comprise the ability grid, O.W.L.’s GroundAware® digital radars present utility firms with real-time situational consciousness and response capabilities to stop bodily safety threats on floor and water surfaces and in low-altitude airspace round vital websites. Using superior, real-time digital radar know-how, GroundAware® detects intruders with as a lot lead time as potential, tracks intruders’ actions, and distinguishes amongst several types of targets leading to alarms solely on targets of concern. Automated responsive actions are immediately triggered on an all-weather, 24/7 foundation — with minimal human involvement.

For extra info on how O.W.L. can work along with your firm to attenuate threats to your substations and the ability grid total, click on here.

SOURCE O.W.L. Observation Without Limits