WHAT WE DO
Aging switchgear does not always require wholesale replacement. The right upgrade strategy can extend equipment life, improve protection and reliability, and address obsolete components while minimizing disruption to an operating facility.
Infrastructure Renewal
Modernizing Existing Electrical Infrastructure
Switchgear often remains in service for decades, while the components within it, protection technology, and operating requirements continue to change. Obsolescence, limited parts availability, increased fault duty, or changing facility requirements can eventually make existing equipment difficult to maintain.
IXR supports switchgear modernization by assessing the existing installation, identifying practical upgrade opportunities, and helping clients determine what should be retained, replaced, or modified.
Upgrade Planning
Switchgear Upgrade Support
Every installation presents different constraints. Existing equipment condition, available outage windows, system configuration, replacement component compatibility, and future operating requirements all influence the approach.
Upgrade work may include:
- Circuit breaker replacement and retrofits
- Protective relay and control upgrades
- Switchgear modifications and component replacement
- Testing and verification of upgraded equipment
- Functional testing prior to return to service
Brownfield Execution
Working Within Existing Facilities
Brownfield electrical work requires a different mindset than new construction. Existing equipment must be understood before modifications begin, interfaces need to be carefully managed, and outage schedules often leave little room for unexpected problems.
Planning the testing and cutover requirements alongside the physical upgrade helps identify potential issues earlier and creates a clearer path from shutdown through re-energization.
Commissioning Readiness
Verification Before Return to Service
An upgrade is not complete when the new components are installed. Modified switchgear needs to be tested as a system to confirm equipment operation, protection functions, control logic, and interfaces before it is returned to service.
IXR can support the process through installation verification, electrical testing, troubleshooting, functional testing, and final readiness for energization.
IXR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Get More from Existing Equipment
A well-planned switchgear upgrade can extend the useful life of existing infrastructure while improving reliability, maintainability, and system performance.
