Through the transformation that the electrical sector has been passing by, improvements in asset management and the guarantee of sustainable and quality services have become essential aspects for power companies. Thus, the digitalization of energy utilities presents itself as an important and crucial process. A concept that involves a variety of innovative trends is the digital twin. It consists of a 3D virtual replica of existing physical objects and real-time monitoring of certain measures. By developing a digital twin in the electrical power grid, a virtual replica of the network is obtained providing network virtual maps, 3D asset models, dynamic and real-time data of grid assets, and IoT sensing. All these data can feed a platform where AI-based models and advanced field operation technologies and solutions will be applied. With a Network Digital Twin©development, applications involving on-field activities can be improved through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to enhance workforce operations. This paper discusses the best practices for the development of a digital twin for the electrical power sector. These practices were found during the development of a project carried out by Enel Distribuição São Paulo, applying a living lab concept in the densest region of Brazil. The results of this paper present 3D images captured with specialized tools, and how they influence the workforce activities of human interface operation. Furthermore, financial and operational returns are presented through a cost–benefit analysis for each relevant aspect.

The ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has become a very important tool for nondestructive underground exploration. The GPR is capable of capturing reflections that form high-resolution lines of the shallow subsurface and underground utility. These lines are processed by an expert who draws a 3D model of what was captured. For objects at different depths, different sizes and materials to be found by technology, the equipment must have a wide frequency range. Low frequency waves make it possible to identify larger objects at greater depths and high frequency waves detect smaller objects at low depths. This case study shows a practical example of the usage of the GPR in the underground distribution grid in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. It was carried out within the scope of a R&D project called “Urban Futurability”, by Enel Dlstribulção São Paulo. The results of the scanning done over 9 km make it possible to use the 3D model combined with a high-precision GPS for the elaboration of an underground network project that draws the best path for the installations, identifying rocks, denser and less dense soils, groundwater and other interference, allowing the work to be executed in a more efficient way.

In recent years, fleet electrification has become a viable alternative for reducing carbon emissions through laws and government incentives around the world. Not only that, such incentives have favored the development of new technologies for the sector that have resulted in the reduction of the manufacturing cost of electric vehicles, which in turn, enabled new business models favoring the evolution of the electromobility sector. However, Brazil has also shown itself to be a market on the rise. However, electromobility in Brazil is still at an early stage of development when compared to other countries. In this sense, this paper sought to present the current state of the Brazilian sector through existing laws, regulations and incentives. In addition, it discusses and proposes alternatives for the development and maturation of the sector. Finally, technical aspects related to the standardization of communication protocols and charger installations are also presented.

The vegetation interference in the electricity grid is a recurrent problem in large cities, which can cause serious problems to the distribution system, such as power outage or even fires. The growth of urban centers and afforestation are necessary and unavoidable. Consequently, it is essential to improve the trimming service process carried out by energy utilities, in order to aim at the well-being of society and respecting environmental conservation standards. Thus, this paper presents a proof-of-concept work on the use of satellite images along with AI techniques for image classification, in order to plan and monitor vegetation, making it possible to estimate an individual’s growth rate and generate a trimming schedule. The chosen area for testing the technology is a 10 km² space located in São Paulo, Brazil. The results of the solution were the registration of trees around the aerial distribution feeders, as well as the categorization of the proximity of these trees to the network, thus allowing the determination of trees that present electrical risk.

The installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) increases demand and peak loads, potentially straining existing energy distribution infrastructure. Dispersed and inadequately planned placement of charging points (CPs) can disrupt the electrical grid, surpass contracted demand thresholds, and require infrastructure upgrades, thereby incurring unfeasible costs for Distribution System Operators (DSOs). In this context, it is necessary to recognize the role of business models in enabling effective electrification of the transportation sector. In response to these challenges, this paper introduces a novel e-mobility hub management strategy, tailored for implementation in the Brazilian context. The proposed strategy revolves around a microgrid configuration encompassing dispatchable and photovoltaic generation, a battery energy storage system (BESS), EVSE infrastructure, and local loads. Moreover, this centralized controller facilitates the implementation of dynamic pricing and demand-response mechanisms, integral to business models seeking to integrate EVSE into the distribution grid. To validate the efficacy of the proposed solution, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations of the microgrid system are conducted. These simulations, incorporating the centralized controller, serve as a tool for assessing system performance and viability before on-site equipment deployment. Finally, this paper concludes with the insights gleaned from test analysis and its discussion through a selection of the most expressive scenarios, including islanded and connected operation modes.

This article describes the application of a communication network using optical fiber in underground protection systems. This application aims to use optical fiber in order to remove electromagnetic and atmospheric interference in these systems, increase the data transmission capacity and maintain a low operational cost. This fiber optic network is developed with the ring communication topology, allowing the use of communication protocols such as DNP3 and those within the IEC 61850 standard (MMS and GOOSE). As a redundancy protocol, this network will use the REP (Resilient Ethernet Protocol) as an alternative to the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). As protection systems, Underground Fault Tracking, Distribution Transformer Sensing, Self-healing and Logical Selectivity initiatives will be studied. The content presented in this article is part of the Urban Futurability research and development (R&D) project, from Enel Distribuição São Paulo. The project was carried out in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in a region with a high-density load and about 20,000 consumer units of the residential and commercial type.