As energy resource depletion and climate crisis have emerged as hot topics in industries and societies around the world, energy conservation and efficiency improvement through ‘distribution design innovation’ are emerging as key factors in corporate competitiveness in the electric power sector as well. The high-voltage and low-voltage distribution systems are the final stage in which electricity produced at power plants is delivered to the final demand site. Reducing losses and smart control in this section are key to reducing electricity bills as well as carbon emissions.

According to the energy industry, it is advised that in order to design distribution to reduce power loss, the following should be considered: equipment selection, system architecture optimization, intelligent control, and linkage with renewable energy and energy storage.

First of all, the first step in power distribution design is to increase the efficiency of core equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers, and reactive power compensation devices.

High-efficiency transformers using amorphous alloy cores can minimize unnecessary no-load losses caused by 'excessive capacity' by operating at a no-load loss range of 70-85% compared to conventional silicon steel types.

By using vacuum circuit breakers as switching devices to reduce arc energy and extend maintenance cycles, and installing capacitors for reactive power compensation to improve the power factor from 0.7 to 0.95 or higher, line loss can be reduced by up to 40%.

In addition, instead of simply connecting the distribution network structure, if it is distributed hierarchically according to load characteristics such as work, lighting, and heating and cooling, it is possible to flexibly respond to power demand while reducing unnecessary power paths.

For example, in large-scale complexes, circuits dedicated to lighting and equipment are separated, and sections with low local demand are operated only in low-voltage sections, or sections with intermittent loads are managed with separate circuit breakers.

In addition, transmission loss is minimized by shortening the supply radius, reducing the wire length to lower line resistance, and optimally designing the cable cross-section considering the current capacity.

When the three-phase load imbalance is more than 10%, the transformer loss increases by 15-20%, so the load of each phase must be distributed in a balanced manner.It is also essential.

Voltage, current, and load data are collected in real time through smart meters and sensor networks, and analyzed in a centralized EMS (Energy Management System).

During low-load hours at night, some of the multiple transformers are automatically shut down and switched to single-transformer operation to reduce no-load loss, and multiple transformers are quickly operated in parallel when the load suddenly increases to ensure stability.

The reactive power compensation device is also designed to automatically turn on and off according to load changes to always maintain a high power factor (>0.95).

Remote monitoring and control functions enable early detection and correction of abnormal signs without having to visit the site, preventing power waste due to equipment failure.

In addition, solar and wind power generation facilities will be installed in locations adjacent to the power distribution grid to increase the self-power production rate, and the produced renewable energy will be stored and utilized in conjunction with an ESS (Energy Storage System).

During the day when solar power generation is abundant, the ESS is charged, and during peak hours when electricity demand is high, the stored power is released to reduce the load on the power grid.

This allows companies to enjoy peak rate savings while protecting critical facilities with backup power from ESS in the event of a grid failure.

Furthermore, by applying a distributed power generation model that sells surplus power to the grid, it is possible to generate profits from power sales.

Experts say that in order to achieve energy savings and efficiency improvements in high- and low-voltage distribution designs, it is necessary to comprehensively consider four pillars: selecting high-efficiency equipment, optimizing distribution network structures, building intelligent control systems, and integrating renewable energy and ESS. They say that through such innovative designs, power loss can be reduced.It was reported that it can drastically reduce threads, cut operating costs, and lead ESG management through reduced carbon emissions.

He also mentioned that for the green transformation of power infrastructure, preemptive investment and multidisciplinary collaboration at the industry level should be followed along with institutional support from the government.