- Partnerships between business and education are crucial to address the energy challenges of the future
- Vietnam’s first Smart Grid Lab at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City will help 350 students a year to understand the complexities of modern power networks
- Lab equipped with ABB solutions allows students to visualize how a power grid operates in real time
The Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH) recently launched the first university Smart Grid Lab in Vietnam, which will give 350 students a year, at the Electrical, Electronics, Control and Automation Faculties, the opportunity to build the skills they need to address the power network challenges of the future.
In the context of rapid urbanization and digitalization and the shift towards renewable energy generation, it is essential that the next generation of engineers understand the complexities at work between power systems, control systems and power protection systems. This will ensure that grids continue to evolve in a way which builds resilience and avoids outages as the energy transition accelerates.
“Our students are the next generation of engineers, who will drive Vietnam’s energy transformation forward. It is important that they understand how the smart grids of the future will function and the role they can play in building resilience and keeping the power on 24/7. Our collaboration with ABB is a chance to build the skills they need to develop their careers. This is particularly important in Vietnam, which is facing shortages of highly qualified and skilled workers. Collaborations like this can only help to improve the long-term outcomes for our students,” said Professor and Dr Le Van Tan, Vice Rector of IUH.
The smart grid lab at IUH is just one of many partnerships between ABB and academic institutions globally. The company collaborates with more than 100 universities worldwide to develop disruptive technologies and evolve its existing products and services. At IUH, ABB has been a long-term partner in technology training programs, supporting students to learn more about IEC standards and how to apply them in power systems as well as how to build switch boards and develop skills around control circuit breakers.
“The power distribution network is facing new challenges due to accelerating trends such as electric vehicles, the integration of renewables, digitalization, and urbanization. This brings with it a host of new issues for the next generation of engineers who need to understand this rapidly evolving landscape. The opening of Vietnam’s first smart grid lab, in cooperation with IUH, will give students hands-on experience of how to build the design and engineering mindset and skills they need for today’s rapidly changing world,” said Doan Van Hien, Vice President, ABB Vietnam.
The smart grids lab offers an advanced distribution grid setup consisting of medium- and low-voltage switchgear, including ABB’s medium-voltage switchgear UniSec, which is equipped with the leading-edge Relion® product family’s grid automation relay REC615, designed for remote monitoring and control to enhance power grid reliability. ABB’s low-voltage switchboard System Pro E Power integrated with the new high-performing circuit breaker ACB Emax2, which manages the performance of low-voltage distribution systems. The entire ABB setup is connected with a simulation system to help students visualize how a modern power grid operates in real time.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
Electrifying the world in a safe, smart and sustainable way, ABB Electrification is a global technology leader in electrical distribution and management from source to socket. As the world’s demand for electricity grows, our 50,000+ employees across 100 countries collaborate with customers and partners to transform how people connect, live and work. We develop innovative products, solutions and digital technologies that enable energy efficiency and a low carbon society across all sectors. By applying global scale with local expertise, we shape and support global trends, deliver excellence for customers and power a sustainable future for society. go.abb/electrification
