Virtual Reality Laboratory for Teaching Power Systems in Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Courses

The study of power substations is fundamental to the training of electrical engineers, as these facilities are crucial to power system operation, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of energy distribution. However, traditional teaching methods often face limitations in offering practical and immersive experiences. Given this gap, this work presents a Virtual Reality Substation Laboratory (VRSL), developed based on a 69/13.8-kV substation at the Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. The VRSL provides a free-to-use educational platform that allows teachers and students to explore the structural and operational aspects of power substations, including equipment operation and fault simulations. Its integration into two substation-related courses over a three-year period engaged more than 120 students by combining virtual reality (VR) with conventional lectures. The triangulation of quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrates substantial improvements in academic performance, student engagement, and comprehension of complex substation concepts. By bridging theoretical knowledge and practical simulation, the VRSL enhances engineering education and prepares students for real-world challenges in power systems.