HardFiber system replaces copper with fiber optic
The HardFiber System, which eliminates the need for thousands of copper wires in a substation and replaces them with a few fiber optic cables, can save utilities up to 50% of their current installation and maintenance costs while at the same time increasing worker safety and power system reliability.
A breakthrough in the installation and ownership of protection and control (P&C) systems, HardFiber addresses the challenges utilities face today. It delivers significant installation and maintenance cost savings and helps improve system security, reliability, and safety.
CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems) is one of the worldÂ’s leading organizations on electric power systems. At this yearÂ’s conference, GE Digital Energy had a significant presence with its Multilin HardFiber System, providing three technical papers and presenting five subject contributions on technology, cyber security, and business drivers to an audience of approximately 350 protection engineers at the B5 Technical Session on Protection & Control.
The GE Digital Energy team made a presentation with American Electric Power (AEP) at the UCA International Users Group Annual Meeting about the first HardFiber System installation at one of AEPÂ’s electrical substations. The team also hosted a well-attended seminar on the life cycle of process bus, from designing to commissioning and testing the system.
Process bus is a substation communication architecture that efficiently collects and transfers data from switchyard equipment to the control room. HardFiber is a process bus solution.
Additionally, the HardFiber System was showcased in a booth where GE Digital Energy P&C technology experts talked with visitors and demonstrated the complete system.
Related News

Salmon and electricity at center of Columbia River treaty negotiations
VANCOUVER - With talks underway between Canada and the U.S. on the future of the Columbia River Treaty, the B.C. New Democrats have launched public consultations in the region most affected by the high-stakes negotiation.
“We want to ensure Columbia basin communities are consulted, kept informed and have their voices heard,” said provincial cabinet minister Katrine Conroy via a press release announcing meetings this month in Castlegar, Golden, Revelstoke, Nakusp, Nelson and other communities.
As well as having cabinet responsibility for the talks, Conroy’s Kootenay West riding includes several places that were inundated under the terms of the 1964 flood control and…