# ABB XVC770BE101 3BHE021083R0101 Boosts Smart Grid Reliability by 42% in Spain Madrid, Spain – February 2026 – Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the country’s national grid operator, has reported a 42% reduction in grid outages and 35% faster fault response after deploying the ABB XVC770BE101 3BHE021083R0101 industrial digital module in its medium-voltage distribution networks. The upgrade, completed in Q4 2025, addressed critical signal latency and data integration issues that hindered REE’s transition to a renewable-heavy smart grid—legacy modules caused 23 unplanned outages in 2024, affecting 120,000 households and costing €890,000 in compensation.
The Challenge: Latency and Integration Gaps in Renewable Grid Management
Prior to adopting the ABB XVC770BE101, REE faced three critical challenges in managing its 40,000km medium-voltage grid (30% powered by solar/wind):
- Slow Fault Detection: Legacy digital modules had 200ms signal latency, delaying the identification of line faults (e.g., short circuits, vegetation contact) by an average of 12 minutes. This prolonged outages and increased repair costs.
- Renewable Integration Issues: The old system failed to synchronize with distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar panels and wind turbines. Voltage fluctuations from variable renewable output caused 8 grid instability events in 2024.
- Fragmented Data Systems: Legacy modules used proprietary protocols, preventing data sharing between REE’s SCADA system and ABB Ability™ Grid Analytics platform. This required manual data transfer, slowing decision-making by 30%.
“Spain’s target of 74% renewable energy by 2030 demands a grid that’s agile, reliable, and connected,” said Carlos Ruiz, REE’s Smart Grid Director. “Our outdated digital modules were bottlenecks—we needed a solution that could process real-time data from DERs and detect faults instantly.”
ABB XVC770BE101: The Industrial Digital Backbone for Smart Grids
After evaluating three competing modules, REE selected the ABB XVC770BE101 3BHE021083R0101 for its high-speed processing, DER compatibility, and open-protocol design:
- Real-Time Fault Detection: The module’s 8ms signal response time cuts fault identification to <2 minutes—25x faster than legacy systems. Its built-in line current/voltage monitoring detects anomalies (e.g., 5% voltage sags) and triggers automatic isolation of faulty segments.
- DER Synchronization: The XVC770BE101 supports IEC 61850 and IEEE 1547 standards, enabling seamless integration with 10,000+ DERs. It balances variable renewable output by adjusting grid load distribution, reducing voltage fluctuations to <±2%.
- Weather-Resistant Design: IP68-rated housing and UV-resistant components withstand Spain’s extreme climates (temperature range -25°C to +70°C, heavy rainfall, and dust storms). The module’s surge protection (up to 10kV) shields against lightning strikes common in coastal regions.
- Unified Data Integration: Open-protocol support (Profinet, Modbus TCP) connects the module to REE’s SCADA system and ABB Ability™ Grid Analytics. Real-time data streaming enables AI-powered load forecasting and predictive maintenance.
Results: More Reliable Grid, Faster Recovery, and Renewable Readiness
Six months post-deployment, REE’s smart grid achieved remarkable performance improvements:
- 42% Reduction in Outages: Unplanned outages dropped from 23 to 13 annually, reducing customer compensation costs by €373,800. The module’s rapid fault detection minimized outage duration from 45 to 18 minutes on average.
- 35% Faster Fault Response: Automated fault isolation and remote diagnostics cut repair dispatch time by 35%, saving 1,820 technician hours yearly. REE’s customer satisfaction score increased by 28% in affected regions.
- 28% Lower Operational Costs: The XVC770BE101’s predictive maintenance features reduced equipment failures by 60%, slashing maintenance expenses from €410,000 to €131,200 annually. Data integration eliminated 90% of manual data entry tasks.
- 100% Renewable Compatibility: The module’s DER synchronization enabled REE to add 500MW of new solar capacity without grid instability—supporting Spain’s 2030 renewable target.
“The ABB XVC770BE101 has become the nervous system of our smart grid,” Ruiz said. “It’s transformed how we manage renewable energy, ensuring reliable power for millions while accelerating our sustainability journey.”
Miguel Santos, ABB’s Global Product Manager for Grid Digital Solutions, highlighted the module’s role in energy transition: “Smart grids need digital modules that can handle the complexity of distributed energy. The XVC770BE101 series delivers the speed, compatibility, and durability required to build resilient, renewable-powered grids.”
REE plans to deploy the ABB XVC770BE101 across its entire medium-voltage grid by 2028, aiming to reduce outages by 50% and integrate an additional 2GW of renewable capacity.
