Power-grid congestion issues and disturbances worldwide have emphasized the need to enhance power grids with Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control (WAMPAC) systems as a cost-effective solution to improve gird planning, operation, maintenance and energy trading. WAMPAC systems take advantage of the latest advances in sensing, communication, computing, visualization, and algorithmic techniques. Synchronized Measurement Technology (SMT), including Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) and its applications are an important element and enabler of WAMPAC. Existing experiences in building large scale WAMPAC systems has shown that a key element in building a WAMPAC system is the development of a suitable strategy and creation of a detailed installation plan. In addition, investments in such systems can be optimised, if a design tailored to the specific needs of the power system in question is properly established.

For building a WAMPAC system, the issues related to infrastructure, applications and policies and procedures must be very thoroughly considered. In this sense, the specific features and needs of the power system in question are critical. They determine the system architecture and the prioritisation of applications of the future WAMPAC system.

In terms of the design of a WAMPAC system, the application of a suitable simulation environment for development and testing of WAMPAC functionality is an optimal approach. A number of simulation tools for this purpose exist today. The aim of this project is to check the suitability of DIgSILENT software packages for these challenges.

One specific concern in the near future is the likelihood of large deployment of PMUs integrated in a single WAMPAC system in GB and IRL network. It is expected that some data, available from real PMUs installed in GB and IRL network, will be evaluated using the simulation methods developed. By this, the validation of the existing network models will be of particular interest.

Objectives

SHETL is obliged under its licence and the Electricity Act to develop an efficient, co-ordinated and economic system of electricity supply. Power-grid congestion issues and disturbances worldwide have emphasized the need to enhance power grids with smart applications (SmartGrids, Flexnet, and Intelligrid), providing decision support to operators and automation to ensure optimum use of assets, whilst maintaining system security and plant and circuit thermal limits.

WAMPAC technology will potentially become a component part of a future smart grid and this work will support the development of next generation data and communications infrastructures for smart applications.