Polytechnic students simulate power grid with donated substation control panel

Students at Saskatchewan Polytechnic are now able to simulate real-life power systems, thanks to a unique, state-of-the-art donation made possible by an alumnus.

The gift is a $200,000 substation protection and control panel, which allows electrical engineering technology students to simulate events that happen on real-world power systems. Using the panel, the students will also gain experience programming substation configurations and learning about protection configurations and breakers.

The panel came as a donation from Dynamo, Altelec and GE Grid Solutions, thanks to the hard work of Dynamo’s Kyle Solie, himself a former student at the technical school.

A a $200,000 substation protection and control panel is now in place Saskatchewan Polytechnic. (Saskatchewan Polytechnic/Submitted)

“As a graduate of the Electrical Engineering Technology program, a chair on the Program Advisory Committee and a regular employer of co-op students and graduates, I was able to identify a technology gap with student learning equipment,” Solie said in a statement.

“As far as I know, this is a one-of-a-kind, custom piece of equipment. There is nothing else like this out there!”

Solie said he loves giving back to the school which kick-started his career, and noted that Dyamo will continue to employ students who graduate from the program.

Dr. Larry Rosia, the school’s president and CEO, said the gift will give students a chance to learn using the latest technology, and thanked Solie for his hard work making it possible.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers its three-year electrical engineering technology diploma program through its Moose Jaw campus. In a statement, the school noted that the program has a 100-per-cent employment rate.