What a substation does
Substations hold transformers that step voltage up or down, breakers that protect the system, and switches that route power. Types include transmission substations, distribution substations, switching stations with no transformers, and collector stations for wind and solar plants.
Why it matters for a site
A site near a transmission substation needs a shorter new line, which saves cost and time. But the station may have no open positions, no land to expand, or no spare transformer room. A large new load often needs a new station or a major expansion.
How Voltane treats substations
Voltane measures the distance from a site to mapped substations and can start a search from a chosen transmission substation. A substation nearby is a place to ask, not available capacity. Voltane never states the megawatts available at a station, because public data does not show it.
Questions people ask
Can I find out how much capacity a substation has?
Not from public maps. Only the utility that owns it can say, usually after a study. Any public figure is at best a rough signal.
Who pays for a new substation?
It depends on the region, the utility and the type of project. The interconnection agreement sets out who builds and who pays.
Related
More glossary
- What is time to power?
- What is powered land?
- What is a powered shell?
- What is large load interconnection?
- What is a point of interconnection?
- What is an interconnection queue?
- What is queue position?
- What is ERCOT?
Need a site, or have one?
Tell us what you need and Voltane finds, reports on and prices candidate sites in ERCOT. Or bring a site you already have for a path-to-power report (by request for now).