WEG took part in the digitalization project of the Itajaí Substation by supplying technologies and solutions developed with its own engineering, contributing to the implementation of a modern architecture based on digital communication and aligned with industry best practices. Completed in the second half of 2025, this is the first fully digital substation operated by AXIA Energia in southern Brazil.
With an installed capacity of 600 MVA, the Itajaí Substation, located in the state of Santa Catarina, underwent an extensive retrofit process focused on modernizing the Protection, Control, and Supervision System (PCSS). The initiative aimed to enhance real-time monitoring capabilities, increase grid availability, strengthen operational safety, and reduce maintenance costs.
The project also stands out for the use of a process bus, enabling the digitalization of measurements and protection signals directly in the substation yard, as well as the adoption of a top-down engineering methodology based on the IEC 61850 standard, which automates the initial configuration of PCSS devices. This approach significantly reduces engineering time and minimizes the risk of human error, bringing greater efficiency to implementation, operation, and maintenance stages.
Throughout the project, more than 40 electrical panels were installed, distributed between control buildings and the yards of the Itajaí and Blumenau substations. The project also included the implementation of control and protection equipment, communication switches, and Process Interface Units (PIUs) designed for outdoor operation.
Among the project’s key figures:
- 11 months to complete the modernization;
- 90 operational interventions carried out during execution;
- 51 minor improvements implemented;
- Approximately 15 tons of copper cables decommissioned with circuit digitalization;
- 18 fully digital connection modules installed at 138 kV and 230 kV, in addition to the modernization of 6 feeder modules, busbar protection, and auxiliary services;
- Zero accidents and zero incidents throughout the project execution.
The initiative is aligned with AXIA Energia’s strategic guidelines for innovation and technology and represents an important step in the modernization of Brazil’s transmission network. Projects like this reinforce the role of digitalization in building smarter, safer, and more efficient power systems.
For WEG, participation in this project reaffirms the company’s commitment to developing and delivering technological solutions that support the evolution of the power sector, contributing to an increasingly digital, reliable, and future-ready energy infrastructure.
