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Grid operator Elia

Project Details

Client Name

Elia Group

Category

Electronic cylinders facilitate management

Date

June 20, 2017

Website

eliagroup.eu

As the operator of the Belgian high-voltage grid, Elia is responsible for over 8,000 kilometers of lines and 644 transformer stations. In this environment, safety is literally a matter of life and death. To modernize access to these critical and high-risk locations, Elia entered into a partnership with Sellox. This resulted in one of the largest implementations of electronic cylinders: the supply and installation of no fewer than 7,500 CyberLock cylinders and 2,000 keys.

Impressions

Challenge

Elia was grappling with a complex safety and management issue. Traditional mechanical key management offered insufficient control: many keys were in circulation, and in the event of incidents, it was impossible to determine who had last entered a location. Additionally, verifying the authorization of individuals (such as contractors) regarding access to hazardous areas was difficult.

The technical challenge, however, was at least as great as the logistical one:

  • No cabling possible: Many locations are remote, making excavation work for cabling too expensive and disruptive.

  • Electromagnetic fields: Due to the high voltage, strong electromagnetic fields prevail around the stations. This made standard wireless technologies unreliable.

  • Existing hardware: The solution had to fit into the existing locks to keep the investment manageable.

Solution

Sellox implemented the CyberLock system, a decentralized and electronic access solution that perfectly meets Elia's requirements. The mechanical cylinders in the existing locks were replaced one-to-one with electronic CyberLock cylinders.

The benefits of this solution for Elia:

  • No infrastructure needed: The cylinders require no batteries or wiring; the energy and data come from the smart key.

  • Insensitive to interference: CyberLock's robust contact technology is unaffected by the strong electromagnetic fields at high-voltage locations.

  • Full control: Lost keys are immediately rendered digitally unusable, and access rights can be set specifically per employee or contractor.

With this system, the personal safety of the staff has been significantly improved and the risk of high-voltage accidents has been reduced, while management is more efficient than ever.

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