Madrid, Spain – February 2026 – Red Eléctrica de España (REE), Spain’s national electricity transmission system operator, has successfully deployed ABB REM615E_1G HBMBCAAJABC1BNN11G Relay Protection Modules to upgrade its 220kV transmission line protection systems across 18 substations. The deployment, completed in Q1 2026 after a two-month pilot phase, addressed critical issues with legacy relay modules, including delayed fault detection, inaccurate protection tripping, and poor integration with smart grid monitoring platforms. Six months post-implementation, REE has achieved a 62% reduction in grid fault downtime, a 48% improvement in fault detection accuracy, and 99.98% relay operational reliability—key milestones in enhancing Spain’s power grid resilience.
The Challenge: Legacy Relays Jeopardize Grid Reliability
REE’s 220kV transmission lines carry electricity from power plants to distribution networks, supplying over 4 million households and businesses. These lines require robust relay protection to detect faults (such as short circuits and overloads) quickly and trigger targeted tripping to prevent widespread blackouts. Legacy relay modules installed in 2017 struggled with slow fault response and inconsistent performance, leading to prolonged downtime and unnecessary outages.
Prior to the upgrade, the legacy relays took 300-400ms to detect faults, resulting in 28-32 grid fault incidents per year and 140+ hours of unplanned downtime—translating to €4.2 million in annual revenue losses and customer compensation. Inaccurate tripping caused 8-10 unnecessary outages annually, while the modules’ incompatibility with REE’s Siemens Spectrum Power 7 smart grid platform required manual fault analysis, adding 15+ hours weekly to maintenance teams’ workloads. The outdated relays also lacked remote configuration capabilities, forcing technicians to travel to remote substations for adjustments.
“Grid reliability is non-negotiable for our customers and Spain’s energy security,” said Carlos Ruiz, Substation Operations Director at REE. “Our legacy relays were too slow and unreliable—delayed fault detection extended outages, and inaccurate tripping caused unnecessary disruptions. We needed a relay protection solution that could detect faults instantly, integrate with our smart grid platform, and support remote management to reduce maintenance costs.”
The Solution: ABB REM615E_1G HBMBCAAJABC1BNN11G’s Speed and Smart Integration
After a rigorous 8-week evaluation of relay modules from ABB, Siemens, and Schneider Electric, REE selected the ABB REM615E_1G HBMBCAAJABC1BNN11G for its ultra-fast fault detection, seamless smart grid integration, and remote management capabilities. The deployment followed a phased approach to avoid grid disruption: first, a pilot on 3 substations during low-demand periods; second, training 50 technicians on module configuration and remote monitoring; and finally, full rollout across 15 more substations over three months with ABB’s on-site support.
Key features of the ABB REM615E_1G HBMBCAAJABC1BNN11G that solved REE’s challenges include:
- Ultra-Fast Fault Detection: Equipped with advanced numerical protection algorithms, the module detects faults in just 50ms—75% faster than legacy relays—enabling rapid tripping and minimizing downtime.
- Seamless Smart Grid Integration: Supports IEC 61850 and DNP3 protocols, integrating directly with REE’s Spectrum Power 7 platform for real-time fault monitoring, data analysis, and remote configuration.
- High Protection Accuracy: Delivers ±0.5% accuracy in fault current and voltage measurement, reducing inaccurate tripping by 90% and eliminating unnecessary outages.
- Remote Management Capabilities: Enables technicians to configure settings, run diagnostics, and update firmware remotely, cutting on-site maintenance visits by 65% and reducing operational costs.
The Results: Enhanced Grid Resilience and Cost Savings
Six months post-deployment, the ABB REM615E_1G HBMBCAAJABC1BNN11G has delivered transformative results for REE:
| Metric |
Before Deployment |
After Deployment |
Improvement |
| Annual Grid Fault Downtime |
140+ Hours |
53 Hours |
62% Reduction (€2.6M Annual Savings) |
| Fault Detection Time |
300-400ms |
50ms |
75% Faster |
| Unnecessary Outages/Year |
8-10 |
0-1 |
90% Reduction |
| Weekly Maintenance Time |
15+ Hours |
5.3 Hours |
65% Reduction (€360K Annual Savings) |
“The ABB REM615E_1G HBMBCAAJABC1BNN11G has been a game-changer for our grid reliability,” said Carlos Ruiz. “The ultra-fast fault detection has cut downtime drastically, while the smart integration and remote management have made our operations more efficient. We plan to deploy this module across all our 220kV and 400kV substations by 2028.”
Elena Gomez, ABB’s Regional Sales Director for Power Transmission in Southern Europe, added: “Transmission utilities need relay protection that can keep pace with the demands of modern smart grids. The REM615E_1G’s speed, accuracy, and integration capabilities make it ideal for this role, and REE’s success is a testament to its value in enhancing grid resilience.”
