Partnering with DELSUR to modernize El Salvador distribution infrastructure with eco-efficient digitally enabled transformers
Customer Story | 4 min read
Committed to building a more sustainable and efficient energy system, DELSUR has partnered with Hitachi Energy to integrate eco-friendly technologies and digital solutions. As a leading electricity distributor in El Salvador, the company is enhancing grid reliability, operational efficiency, and environmental responsibility while meeting the growing energy demands of the communities it serves.
Challenges
Advancing sustainability in El Salvador’s distribution infrastructure
DELSUR, a leading electricity distribution company in El Salvador, supplies power to over 450,000 users across the central and southern regions of the country. As energy demands continue to grow, the company faces the challenge of ensuring a reliable, efficient, and sustainable power supply while minimizing its environmental footprint.
Since becoming part of the EPM Group Colombia in 2011, DELSUR has reinforced its vision of building and promoting sustainable infrastructure to provide its services to the territory. One of the company’s principles is caring for the environment and natural resources, and by managing the impact it generates, DELSUR strives to contribute to the quality of life of all members of society. However, achieving this goal requires overcoming several key challenges. The company must integrate environmentally friendly solutions into its infrastructure while ensuring grid stability and resilience. At the same time, it must modernize its operations by adopting digitalization strategies that improve efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance decision-making through data-driven insights.
To address these challenges, DELSUR set two strategic objectives: first, to incorporate eco-efficient technologies that reduce the environmental impact of its energy distribution network, and second, to leverage digital solutions that enhance grid performance, improve asset management, and ensure long-term operational reliability.
Solutions
Implementing eco-efficient digitally enabled transformers
To support DELSUR’s vision, Hitachi Energy stepped in to provide EconiQ™ power transformers, which are developed with an eco-efficient design and filled with natural esters, an environmentally friendly insulation fluid alternative to conventional mineral oil . EconiQ™ power transformers add value in the areas of decarbonization, enhanced safety for people, protection of ecosystems, and responsible use of resources across the transformers’ life cycle. These transformers were installed in the Ateos and Lourdes substations in El Salvador.
A critical step in DELSUR’s journey was also upgrading its existing substations through digitalization and improving its own reliability-centered maintenance practices. This is where Hitachi Energy’s TXpert™ ecosystem came in to digitally enable their full transformers fleet. In fact, the TXpert™ ecosystem being designed with an open, scalable, secure, and vendor-agnostic system could enable both existing transformers from other manufacturers and the new eco-friendly transformers from Hitachi Energy. With digitally enabled transformers fully equipped with sensors for continuous condition monitoring and bushing monitoring for predictive maintenance, DELSUR gained full control and visibility on its fleet, which will allow them to avoid unplanned outages with early warnings and improve safety by minimizing human exposure to the substation environment.
Additionally, enabled by the data and intelligence of the TXpert™ Ecosystem and optimized to enhance the functionality of digital transformers, the Asset Performance Management (APM) software provided a comprehensive solution that enabled DELSUR not only to monitor the fleet but to leverage their online and offline data to drive more intelligent, risk-based approaches to asset management.
Benefits
Strengthening sustainability, reliability and collaboration
By adopting these cutting-edge solutions, DELSUR has significantly enhanced its operational efficiency and sustainability efforts. The use of eco-efficient transformers has reduced environmental impact while improving transformer performance and safety. The implementation of this technology reinforces DELSUR's commitment to innovation in fostering a more sustainable distribution network.
Additionally, the digitalization of assets has streamlined maintenance processes, minimized unplanned outages, and optimized costs. With real-time insights provided by the TXpert™ ecosystem and APM Edge, DELSUR can now make data-driven decisions, improving grid reliability and ensuring a more resilient power supply for the communities it serves. This transformation reinforces DELSUR’s leadership in sustainable energy and sets a benchmark for utilities in the region while allowing it to strengthen its commitment to “contributing to the harmony of life for a better world.”
Moreover, the long-standing collaboration between DELSUR and Hitachi Energy over more than six years, has fostered a culture of co-creation, innovation, and trust. By working together to implement cutting-edge solutions, DELSUR have honored its promise of delivering a more sustainable and resilient power distribution network for El Salvador.
Recognition
A story of commitment & partnership
On September 27, 2024, DELSUR was recognized by Hitachi Energy for its strong commitment to sustainability and pioneering spirit in the adoption of innovative technological solutions that contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change. We are proud of supporting DELSUR in its sustainability journey and honored to be part of this path of co-creating solutions to enable a sustainable energy future for today’s generations and those to come.
It is an honor to collaborate with companies that share our vision of a more sustainable energy future. We thank DELSUR for choosing our solutions to be part of this important step towards sustainability.
