Synchrophasor Data Applications for Wide-Area Systems

The successful deployment of Smart Grids at the transmission level will largely depend on the development and implementation of synchronized phasor measurement data-based applications and on the continuous improvement of the information and communication infrastructures supporting them. During the last decade several phasor measurement unit (PMU) data applications, that will potentially enable Smart Transmission Grids (STGs), have been proposed. In this paper we provide an overview on two of these applications, devoted to PMU-only state estimation, and modal analysis, as well as work related to developing some supporting IT infrastructure. Rather than discussing details of applications, this paper aims to give highlights of the relevant features of these applications in the context of STGs, and outlines additional research efforts necessary for phasing in these tools into practical use.QC 2012020