Croatia, Split: A key upgrade to the electrical network at Split Airport has significantly enhanced the reliability and responsiveness of its power supply system. The project, carried out by Hitachi Energy’s external partner Končar, centred on the implementation of Hitachi Energy’s RTU540 remote control technology. The retrofit was strategically scheduled during the airport’s low-traffic winter period and completed in four months.
By integrating RTU540 units, the airport now benefits from remote monitoring, faster fault detection, and automated power grid reconfiguration. This modernisation ensures more stable energy distribution and reduces downtime, supporting higher operational safety for air traffic.
The airport’s power grid is fed through two substations, previously equipped with outdated systems that were no longer adequate for managing energy demand. Additionally, any power outage required manual intervention on site, meaning response times were heavily dependent on the availability of the local operations team, an issue that proved particularly challenging during peak holiday periods.
To emphasise the strategic importance of Split Airport, Končar delivered a comprehensive upgrade of the entire power grid. The primary switchgear, made up of two substations, was modernised with new equipment. To enable remote monitoring and control, Hitachi Energy’s RTU540 system was deployed, featuring remote input/output (I/O) modules and programmable logic controller (PLC) functions in line with IEC 61131 standards. The installation of the 560CVD03 multimeter now allows for detailed measurement of power, energy, frequency, power factor, and electrical values such as W, VA, and VAR across the network. An advanced algorithm was implemented to enable the automatic reconfiguration of the power system, enhancing overall reliability and responsiveness.
The new system ensures a reliable power supply, eliminating the need for manual onsite operations. Remote monitoring enables quick fault detection and isolation, reducing average outage time to under 3 seconds and significantly enhancing air traffic safety.
Source: Hitachi Energy
