To keep pace with a faster, greener, more decentralised grid, substations require a modern, resilient backbone

The need for a smarter, more resilient electricity grid has never been greater. Electrification is surging across homes, vehicles, and industries, and nearly half of UK primary substations are expected to hit maximum capacity by 2035. Throw in ageing  infrastructure, volatile renewables, rising costs, regulatory pressure, and escalating cyber threats, and the demand for a new approach to substation management is clear. Regulators are tightening compliance standards and pushing for accelerated digital transformation to ensure grid reliability and security. Utilities must replace traditional substations with smarter, digital systems.

What is a smart substation?

A smart substation is intelligent, adaptive, and secure. By leveraging sensors, advanced software, and real-time analytics, these substations enable predictive maintenance, rapid fault detection, and dynamic load balancing. Embedded cybersecurity, aligned with industry standards, protects critical assets from evolving threats – resulting in improved reliability, operational agility, and seamless integration of renewables.

The risks of ageing infrastructure were thrust into the spotlight in spring 2025 when the Hayes substation fire cut electricity supply to Heathrow Airport – forcing it to close for 16 hours, cancelling over 1,000 flights and affecting more than 200,000 passengers. It also left at least 16,300 homes without power.

The final NESO findings cited a failure to maintain and replace a defective asset – noting that moisture affecting electrical components was left “unaddressed” and that basic maintenance planned for 2022 was deferred. While digital solutions cannot prevent every incident, in such cases a smart substation could have significantly increased the chances of early detection, enabling faster response and recovery, minimising disruption, and safeguarding essential services.

What’s holding up smart substation adoption?

The UK’s first smart electricity substation was installed in Kent in early 2025 but on the whole, progress has largely been slow.

Upgrading legacy assets is both complex and costly, and the initial investment required for digital transformation is substantial. Additionally, fragmented planning and slow digitisation efforts erode return on investment and expose the grid to vulnerabilities.

Operational complexity is another major challenge. The increasing demand from electrification of transport, heating, and industry requires more sophisticated substation control, but there is a notable skills gap in the workforce, particularly at the intersection of engineering and digital operations. Cybersecurity concerns also add to the complexity, as digital substations are more vulnerable to cyber threats and require robust security measures.

Capgemini’s EST-CORE framework provides a blueprint for traditional substation transformation

We understand that successful substation transformation goes beyond technology. Meeting this challenge at scale requires full business evolution – aligning digital tools, streamlined processes, and organisational change to deliver measurable results.

Our EST-CORE (Energy Substation Transformation – Cyber Optimised Resilient Efficiency) framework is designed to accelerate the smart substation journey for energy network operators. It provides a comprehensive blueprint for diagnostics, business case development, technology validation, and industrial operations rollout – combining our engineering, digital, and operational expertise with leading hardware collaborators such as Hitachi, GE, Siemens, and others.

With EST-CORE, you can:

  • Prevent outages before they occur. Real-time analytics and machine learning monitor equipment health, enabling early anomaly detection and failure forecasting to reduce unscheduled downtime and extend asset life.
  • Enable faster deployment, easier upgrades, and reduced engineering costs. IEC 61850 interoperability and standardised digital communication allow seamless integration of multi-vendor equipment, supporting rapid deployment and simplified upgrades.
  • Ensure cybersecurity is foundational and compliant. Zero-trust principles are embedded from design to deployment, ensuring compliance with NERC CIP and robust protection for digital substations.
  • Empower control rooms to manage complex, decentralised networks with greater autonomy. High-quality, real-time data enables efficient management and reduces pressure on central operations by supporting greater substation autonomy.

Why choose Capgemini as your partner for this transformation?

Some partners think, some make. We do both. Whether upgrading legacy systems or building new infrastructure, we help unlock the value of asset intelligence. Safely. Sustainably. At scale.

Beyond technology, our seasoned experts deliver full digital workforce transformation, integrating digital tools, optimised processes, and change management for sustainable grid modernisation. Through strategic partnerships with civil, digital, and infrastructure companies, we deliver integrated digital technologies that enhance transformation and enhance grid resilience. Reducing operational and capital costs. Helping you maintain safe and stable energy for every customer and community.

With deep expertise in safety-critical systems for aerospace, rail, and energy, Capgemini brings a proven track record in secure, high-assurance solutions. We are consistently recognised as a leader in digital workplace and cloud services by NelsonHall, Avasant, ISG, Forrester, Gartner, and Everest.

Let’s get started

The journey to smart substation transformation is not just about adopting new technology, it’s about embracing a holistic approach that aligns people, processes, and digital innovation to deliver measurable, resilient outcomes for the UK’s energy networks. Capgemini’s EST-CORE framework provides a proven blueprint to accelerate this transition, combining deep engineering expertise, robust cybersecurity, and a commitment to operational excellence.

If you’re ready to future-proof your substations and drive meaningful change, get in touch with our team of experts.