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SF6 breakers, are widely used in the electrical power industry for their exceptional arc-quenching properties. These breakers utilize SF6 gas as an insulating medium, which exhibits excellent dielectric strength and thermal conductivity. As a result, SF6 breakers offer several advantages over traditional oil or air-based circuit breakers, including higher voltage ratings, compact size, and better performance under high-voltage conditions. However, due to the environmental concerns associated with SF6 gas, its disposal has become a significant challenge, leading to the development of stringent regulations and specialized techniques for its proper handling and recycling. 

Disposing of SF6 gas is critical and requires careful attention to minimize its environmental impact. SF6 is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) several thousand times greater than carbon dioxide. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the responsible management and recycling of SF6 gas to mitigate its contribution to climate change. Disposal methods for SF6 gas typically involve recovering, purifying, and reusing the gas to reduce emissions. Various techniques, such as gas filtration, chemical treatment, and cryogenic separation, are employed to remove impurities and contaminants from used SF6 gas, allowing it to be recycled and reused in the electrical industry. Additionally, governments and regulatory bodies have implemented strict protocols and guidelines to monitor and regulate the disposal of SF6 gas, promoting the adoption of environmentally friendly practices and technologies in the power sector. 

The Voltyx family of companies provides daily service on SF6 breakers throughout the country. Our services have significant environmental impacts. By performing regular maintenance, we enhance the reliability of the breakers, thereby reducing the occurrence of emergency outages. These outages can result in various forms of environmental damage, including fires, gas spillage, and the release of harmful toxins during failures, which can result in immeasurable GWP.  

For example, NASS recently performed two annual maintenance services on nine 230kV SF6 breakers. Through this service, NASS was able to halt leaks on two breakers and repair the mechanism on a third, improving reliability across the customer’s fleet.  

Voltyx’s NASS is a major proponent of modernizing electrical infrastructure, with sustainable practices at the forefront of everything we do. To learn more about how NASS can help with updating your equipment or aid with the proper disposal of SF6 gas at your company, visit www.voltyx.com/nass.  

About Voltyx 

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners. 

For more information about Voltyx and our family of operating companies, visit www.voltyx.com. 

In 2021, one of the largest multi-national energy companies was tasked with creating the largest wind farm off the United States’ east coast. Included in the project’s scope were twelve turbines and one offshore substation with a proposed location 15 miles east of Montauk, NY. In Fall of 2022, Voltyx’s EPST was chosen as the electrical testing and engineering group to support the project.

The new wind farm will need a new 138/69kV onshore substation for New York’s largest electrical utility and will be the first offshore wind farm to provide power to approximately 70,000 homes throughout the state. To accomplish this goal and reach the Summer 2023 completion date, the client and EPST have also brought in New England’s largest electrical utility to aid with the construction of the onshore substation in Montauk. Beginning in January 2023, EPST began their work on this onshore substation project including:

1. Reviewing engineering design for the onshore substation and P&C packages, including relays utilizing the new and advanced 61850 protocols.
   
2. Programming and testing of all protection and control devices.
   
3. Integration testing of 61850 protocol.
   
4. Testing of telecommunication devices between onshore, offshore, and local utility substations.
   
5. Acceptance testing of substation equipment including:
   
   a. (3) 138kV breakers
   b. (3) 69kV dead tank breakers
   c. (1) 138/69/24kV autotransformer
   d. (1) 138kV oil-filled fixed shunt reactor
   e. (1) 75-MVAR 24kV STATCOM
   f. (1) 50-MVAR 69kV Harmonic filter
   g. (1) Control house with AC & DC utilities, relay panels, and SCADA equipment.
   
6. Energization of onshore and offshore substations through new transmission lines with local utility.

Throughout the first quarter of 2023, EPST was busy assembling a crew of experienced industry professionals who could expedite and deploy a condensed schedule in Long Island, NY. Though there were a significant number of weather-related obstacles, in May 2023, EPST delivered this project on time and on budget to the client.

EPST will complete the energization of the South Fork Wind Farm Substation in July 2023, when we look forward to sharing an update on this exciting project!

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

For more information about Voltyx and our family of operating companies, visit www.voltyx.com.

Voltyx’s operating company, Electric Power Systems (EPS), has embarked on a new project alongside the State of California to assist with its Strategic Reliability Reserve (SRR) program. The California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) and their sister agencies, the California Energy Commission (CEC) and California Air Resources Board (CARB), have been tasked to expand power generation and energy storage facilities in response to extreme events, such as heatwaves and wildfires that have plagued the state over the last several years.

As part of the statewide initiative, the SSR requires upgrades and expansions of existing substation equipment, controls, and protection. In addition, installing emergency power generator units at existing facilities will be implemented to feed directly into the electrical grid during peak-demand events.

EPS has been selected, along with the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, to provide installation and testing of the new and existing electrical apparatus. Included in the overall scope of work, EPS will assist with the following:

• Demo existing and install new RTU cabinet, including wiring, testing, and commissioning.
• Demo existing and install new protection and control cabinet, including wiring, testing, commissioning, end-to-end testing, and utility witness testing.
• Perform acceptance testing of all new medium voltage switchgear.
• Perform testing of all new and existing apparatus in the 69kV substation. Includes air switches, SF6 circuit breakers, substation transformers, instrument transformers, bus structures, lightning arrestors, DC systems, cables, and grounding.

Since the commencement of the program, each project site throughout the state of California has endured its own unique set of challenges due to the landscape and weather-related setbacks. However, by taking a safety-first approach with planning and execution, EPS has faced these challenges head-on with experienced crews who possess the necessary skill set to deliver high-quality results while minimizing risk.

This ongoing project with the State of California to modernize the electrical infrastructure is critical to both current and future energy needs. EPS is proud to be an integral partner in this effort to provide the reliable and up-to-date infrastructure that will benefit our communities for decades. 

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

For more information about Voltyx and our family of operating companies, visit www.voltyx.com.

The NOMOS N-Series is intended as the answer to emergency control cabinet replacement or as a key component in transformer life extension projects. The N-Series provides devices that modernize dated transformer controls with today’s standards and technology. These cabinets also boast the integration of external cabinet devices, such as gas monitoring and smart dehydrating breathers.

Today’s market challenges have caused significantly longer lead times for equipment and control cabinets. Therefore, NOMOS is introducing the N-Series family of transformer control cabinets as an industry solution. The N-Series cabinets are available in four configurations to meet various replacement needs. These control cabinet solutions include support from the NOMOS engineering team, who will review the customer’s specifications and ensure that the N-Series control cabinet meets or exceeds the end user’s particular application. This service also includes a full set of schematics, including physical and wiring diagrams.

The N-Series cabinet enclosures have been designed by industry experts with years of experience in the field, who know firsthand what is needed from a control cabinet. From the painted stainless-steel enclosure to the three-point latching reinforced exterior door designs, the NOMOS N-Series has been designed with the customer in mind. In addition to the aforementioned features, the N-Series includes heavy-duty hinges, an interior swing panel, and wheeled supports to reduce stress on the hinges, providing years of use.

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

For more information about Voltyx and our family of operating companies, visit www.voltyx.com

For the greater part of two decades environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance (ESG) have taken center stage within major corporations doing business in the United States. Additionally, the United States government is increasingly holding corporations accountable to meet the demanding standards towards reduced greenhouse emissions. As we near the close of 2022, ESG related topics are continuously making headlines in the daily news. One central focus is on the utility sector and the power industry’s plans to significantly reduce their greenhouse emissions within a reasonable timeframe.

To date it is estimated that 25% of greenhouse emissions come from electricity. Being equipped with this knowledge, the power industry is leading the way on paving the road towards a more sustainable way of life. This includes 80% of investor-owned utilities committing to reducing their carbon emissions.

The primary factors driving the power industry towards the sustainable efforts are:

1. The U.S. Federal Clean Air Act– The Clean Air Act and various other pieces of legislature on the table is mandating the industry meet the requirements to meet reduced carbon emissions and sustainability targets.
2. Consumer and Shareholder Demand– With a growing number of concerned consumers and eco-minded shareholders, the power industry is equally concerned about the effects its product has on the planet. This shared cause has created an about-face effort towards more sustainable practices and tapping into renewable energy sources like wind, hydroelectric, and solar.

While the demand of this shift from concerned consumers is high, according to the J.D. Power Sustainability Index study, only 23% of consumers nationwide are versed in their local power utility’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study, which focuses on customer awareness, support, engagement, and advocacy for local utility climate sustainability program and goals, regularly evaluates the nation’s 35 major electric utilities.

At Voltyx, we are a proud partner alongside our utility clients towards creating a more sustainable future for the generations to come. As we experience a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize the power industry, Voltyx offers a comprehensive portfolio of electrical services to help utilities reach their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon reduction goals. For more information about our sustainable practices and how we can assist with your company efforts of sustainable grid operation and renewable energy development, visit Voltyx.com

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

December 2, 2022, brought a large crowd to the Logan Generating Station in Swedesboro, New Jersey, as the state’s last standing coal-fired power plant was imploded to create a new site for renewable energy storage.

After nearly three decades of operation, the 242MW power plant’s service was brought down by the push of a button while climate and clean energy advocates looked on.

Owned by energy and infrastructure investment group, Starwood Energy, this now decommissioned site will make way for a clean energy storage facility, per the long-term power purchase agreement termination granted by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. In March 2022, Starwood agreed to use the site as host to clean energy projects if allowed to end the PPA early. As such Atlantic City Electric customers can expect to see refunds of the PPA costs in the near future.

According to Starwood’s CEO Himanshu Saxena, not only does the early retirement of this plant save the utility $30 million, the “early and permanent retirement” of the Logan plant marks New Jersey’s single largest move to reduce C02 emissions.

“Working with numerous stakeholders, we developed a win-win plan that created an early and permanent retirement of the Logan plant and resulted in one of the State’s single largest CO2 reduction measures,” Starwood CEO Himanshu Saxena said.

“And now, in accordance with New Jersey’s Legislative Mandate to implement urgently needed energy storage for grid security and to accommodate and maximize the benefit of the huge influx of incoming renewable energy including from offshore wind, our company will work with Energy Management, Inc. to transform this site into one of the largest energy storage projects anywhere on the East coast.”

As a proponent of renewable energy and grid modernization, Voltyx is an integrated solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through the complex modernization of the electrical infrastructure through vision, strategy, service, and support. If you are looking for a partner to help guide you through the upgrading or modernizing macro grid or micro grid equipment, Voltyx can help.

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

For more information about Voltyx and our family of operating companies, visit www.voltyx.com

Produced from sources such as the sun, wind, and water, renewable energy is becoming of greater importance to humanity as we strive to reduce our overall carbon footprint and greenhouse emissions. Now more than ever before, it is imperative to tap into these renewable sources. Not only to reduce our impact on the planet but also to ensure we do not fully deplete our non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

Advantages of Renewable Energy

Aside from the environmental impacts, renewable energy provides numerous economic, health, and national security advantages, such as:

• Security, reliability, and resilience of the nation’s power grid
• Increased employment throughout the power industry
• Reduced carbon emissions and air pollution
• Increased energy independence
• Greater clean energy access for those not directly connected to the grid
• Increased affordability of energy for consumers

Types of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy generates roughly 20% of the United States electric consumption, which is expected to grow exponentially in the upcoming years. The leading sources of clean energy within the United States are:

Wind

Wind turbines, previously referred to as windmills, “collect and convert the kinetic energy that wind produces into electricity to help power the grid.”¹ As a byproduct of the sun, wind is considered to be the top sustainable resource, something the United States has taken note of and increases it’s utilization by 30% year over year. Because of this growth, the power industry has implemented over 100,000 jobs throughout 41 states.

Hydropower

One of the oldest and largest resources of renewable energy is hydropower. Utilizing the movement of water to harness energy, hydropower accounts for 31.5% of renewable energy generation or 6.3% of the United States’ total electric output. One of the greatest examples of hydropower is the Hoover Dam but hydropower plants exist in the form of “dam-less”, water irrigation ditches located within local municipalities.

Solar

Solar energy is the process of harnessing sunlight into photovoltaic panels or mirrors designed to concentrate solar radiation. There are two main types of solar energy technologies- photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP).  Most are familiar with PV as it utilizes solar panels to absorb sunlight into the PV panel cells which then creates an electrical charge, causing electricity to flow. CSP uses a system of mirrors to focus sunlight onto receivers to convert the solar energy into heat, producing electricity that can be stored for future purposes or to generate large power plants. 

Biomass

Biomass, or bioenergy, is renewable energy derived from previously living organic material. These once living masses are converted into fuel, electricity, heat, and products. According to Energy.gov, “There are three ways to harvest the energy stored in biomass to produce biopower: burning, bacterial decay, and conversion to a gas or liquid fuel. Biopower can offset the need for carbon fuels burned in power plants, thus lowering the carbon intensity of electricity generation. Unlike some forms of intermittent renewable energy, biopower can increase the flexibility of electricity generation and enhance the reliability of the electric grid.”

Geothermal

Geothermal reservoirs are located throughout the United States, with the highest concentration amongst the western states. These reservoirs of hot water exist at varying temperatures and depths below the Earth’s surface. Wells of a mile or more, can be drilled to tap into the underground steam and boiling waters then driven back to the surface for electrical generation, direct use, and heating and cooling.

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

For more information about Voltyx and our family of operating companies, visit www.voltyx.com

¹ Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy – Wind Energy Basics | Department of Energy

In July 2022, NASS was commissioned by HICO America to install one of North America’s largest solar transformers. As a leading partner of sustainable energy, HICO America specializes in developing energy solutions and heavy electrical equipment with a global-scale impact. Having worked with NASS on previous largescale projects, HICO and their solar farm customer were confident in the company’s ability to approach the install with the proper care and safety precautions necessary for a project this size.

On July 18, 2022, the equipment arrived at its’ Southwestern United States destination and the six-week installation began of this 290MVA and 525KV capacity transformer. Weighing in at just under 600,000 lbs., the 36’ x 32.5’ transformer stands to generate enough power to supply up to 200,000 households during non-peak hours.

This solar transformer is now part of one of the largest solar farms in the Southwestern United States. Contributing to one of the smallest carbon footprints and energy payback times, this sustainable energy equipment will now aid in eliminating more than 220,000t of annual carbon dioxide emissions.

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

As the world continues to face supply chain issues, the electrical industry is becoming more and more impacted by the day. The multi-year supply chain deficit is now disrupting the distribution of transformers, making it difficult to find replacements when needed in emergencies. 

As known throughout the industry, transformers vary in size and kVA (amps), depending on the customer’s needs. Many users keep spare transformers in stock; however, the supply chain issue has created a shortage most were unprepared for – a shortage of available assets. 

This shortage has changed the way we need to manage our assets within our industry. We now need to shift our methods to a maintenance focus to achieve a longer lifespan for our assets. Therefore, routine testing and maintenance are more critical now than ever before. 

In addition to shortages, the current cost of the average pad-mounted transformer has risen 400% above per-unit pricing compared to 2020. At the same time, the station type transformer is 900% above average compared to the same year. Similar increases have affected large power transformers as well.

Users are not only facing shortages and price increases, but they’re also seeing exponentially longer lead times. What once took 6-12 weeks to fulfill an order in 2020 is now taking 52-86 weeks, depending on the type of transformers ordered. In addition, many orders are currently being slated for a mid-2023 arrival, whereas others are facing multiple postponed delivery dates or a ‘yet to be determined’ arrival. 

What does this mean for the User?

The overall ripple effect of the supply chain issues has yet to be determined. For now, transformer users can continue to experience delays in delivering transformers and an increased cost to receive them until the supply chain can sort itself out. 

Voltyx can assist with creating a maintenance plan to help mitigate costs and outages associated with transformer shortages. Our team of experts is on hand 24/7 to help tailor a program specific to your organizational needs. If you or your company are experiencing an issue with your equipment, please contact us at any time. 

For more information or assistance in locating a transformer, or help extending the life of your transformers, please feel free to reach out to info@voltyx.com

Construction on the Wild Springs Solar Project in Pennington County, SD, is officially underway. The state’s largest solar project is expected to generate 128-MW of energy which will serve customers of the regional electric cooperative. Wild Springs in located in Pennington County, and owned by National Grid Renewables, falls under Southwest Power Pool, which already has a 114-MW power purchase agreement with Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

With the addition of the Wild Springs Solar Project, SPP will oversee the bulk of the electrical grid in the Central U.S., distributing power to several utilities across 17 states. According to Blake Nixon, president of National Grid Renewables, “Wild Springs represents a continuation of our leadership in renewable energy and economic development in the state of South Dakota. Our Crocker Wind Farm located in Clark County began operation in 2019, and now with Wild Springs, we will have nearly 330 MW of clean energy projects in the state, all of which contribute significantly to the tax base, as well as the local communities that host the projects.”

“The construction of the Wild Springs Solar Project will be a great addition to South Dakota,” states by Steve Westra, commissioner of the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

As renewables continue to dominate South Dakota’s utility scale, this groundbreaking solar project will contribute to the 82% overall electricity generation for the state. Currently, wind energy is supplying more than 50% for the entire state, with hydropower taking second place since 2021. With the Wild Springs Solar Project installment, solar energy is positioned to surpass hydropower once the farm is fully operational.

As a proponent of renewable energy and grid modernization, Voltyx is an integrated solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through the intricacy modernizing the electrical infrastructure. Through vision, strategy, service, and support, Voltyx and its family of operating companies offer robust services for the renewable energy sector including maintenance, acceptance testing, installation, and commissioning. For more details on these services and how Voltyx can assist with your renewable’s sites, visit www.voltyx.com or email us at info@voltyx.com

About Voltyx

As the holding company of five operating companies – EPS, NASS, EPST, TLS, and NOMOS, Voltyx is an integrated power solutions provider focused on guiding our partners through vision, strategy, service, and support. The Voltyx family has served the electrical grid for more than 40 years and is united at the core by providing exceptional testing, engineering, maintenance, grid equipment, and cyber security services. Our reputation for safety, innovation, and service is built on a foundation of well-leveraged resources and competencies, driving reliability back to our partners.

For more information about Voltyx and our family of operating companies, visit www.voltyx.com