Synchrophasor Measurements at Distribution Systems – Use Cases and Path Forward
Date: Thursday, May 27 Time:
Add to calendar: Panel2.ics
Name of the organizer: Panayiotis Moutis, Phd (Systems Scientist, Scott Institute for Energy Innovation)
Email: pmoutis@andrew.cmu.edu
Organisation: Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Short biography of the chair: Panayiotis (Panos) Moutis, PhD, is a Systems Scientist at the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), USA, since Aug. 2018 (Postdoc Electrical & Computer Engineering – ECE, CMU 2016). He served as a Marie Curie fellow with DEPsys SA, Switzerland, in 2018-2020. In 2014 he was awarded a fellowship by Arup, UK (through the University of Greenwich), on the “Research Challenge of Balancing Urban Microgrids in Future Planned Communities”. Between 2007 and 2015, as part of the research group SmartRUE, at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, he contributed to many R&D projects funded by the European Commission. Panos studied at the School of ECE at the NTUA, Greece (Dipl. 2007, PhD 2015). He has published more than 30 papers and contributed to 3 book chapters, while also has over 10 years of experience as a technical consultant on and developer of projects of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency. He is the CTO of Proterima Energy Consultants, Greece, and technology advisor to Xeal (ex EVE Energy), USA, an electric vehicle charging platform start-up. He is a senior member of multiple IEEE societies, associated editor in IEEE & IET journal publications, task-group chair in two IEEE standards working groups, Chair of the IEEE Smart Grid Publications Committee, Editor-in-Chief of the “IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter”, and has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the “IEEE Smart Grid Compendium of Journal Publications, vol. 1”.
Abstract: Utilities in the US have been gradually deploying phasor measurement units (PMUs) to monitor synchrophasors at selected parts of their distribution systems. In Europe, distribution system operators are exploring and, in some cases, testing synchronized measurements of their feeders. Most typical use cases of said applications are power quality monitoring, inverse or high power flows, and wildfire detection and mitigation measures. As there is no specific standardization or consensus about the minimum value expected by deploying PMUs at distribution systems, it is important to gather existing experiences, quantify the impact of on-going efforts, define aspirations for potential use-cases and determine a framework for PMU performance. This panels comprises utility, vendor and academic experts on the subject matter, who will offer insights, review on-going initiatives and propose actions for the path forward.
Panelist 1:
Name: Sascha von Meier
Organisation: UC Berkeley – Adjunct Professor, USA
North American Synchro-Phasors Initiative – Distribution Task Team Lead
Short biography of the chair: Alexandra “Sascha” von Meier is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley and the Director of the California Institute for Energy and the Environment‘s Electric Grid program area, which focuses on power distribution systems, Smart Grid issues, and the integration of distributed and intermittent generation. Her current research projects center on the use of high-precision micro-synchrophasor measurements for situational awareness, diagnostics and control applications in distribution grids. Sascha is the author of the textbook “Electric Power Systems: A Conceptual Introduction.” Until 2011, she was a Professor of Energy Management & Design in the Department of Environmental Studies and Planning at Sonoma State University. Sascha received a B.A. in physics in 1986 and a Ph.D. in Energy and Resources in 1995 from UC Berkeley.
Title of presentation: Distribution Synchrophasors for Control Applications
Abstract: This presentation introduces a new Phasor-Based Control approach developed at the University of California, Berkeley to coordinate distributed energy resources for grid services, and discuss this in the context of measurement data requirements.
Panelist 2:
Name: Ken Martin
Organisation: Electrical Power Group – Senior Principal Engineer, USA
North American Synchro-Phasors Initiative – Distribution Task Team Lead
Short biography of the chair: Ken Martin is a Synchrophasor Technology Leader and Senior Principal Engineer. Ken has over 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He has extensive experience with SCADA and time-synchronized phasor data collection and use, including collection, system communications, system architecture and design, and applications for protection, control, monitoring, data management and display. Ken’s work covers instrumentation and measurement systems for research, test, validation and controls.
Title of presentation: What can phasor measurement units (PMUs) provide and what are the challenges in developing a standard for them in the distribution environment
Abstract: What can PMUs offer? What have their most typical applications been? Existing standards will be reviewed and the differences with distribution systems will be pointed out to describe what is needed to address said differences in the context of standard development.
Panelist 3:
Name: Paul Pabst
Organisation: Smart Grid & Technology Manager – ComEd, USA
Short biography of the chair:Paul Pabst, P.E., is the manager of project execution within ComEd’s Smart Grid Department. He has 14 years of power system project experience ranging from renewable energy, microgrids, distribution automation, and traditional medium voltage power systems. He is the Distribution PMU Program Manager for ComEd, responsible for the multi-year deployment and analysis effort at both ComEd-owned substations and distribution feeders. He has held multiple executive roles within the IEEE PES Chicago chapter is the current IEEE PES Awards Chair.
Title of presentation: Distribution PMU Deployment and Analytics
Abstract: ComEd has deployed about 200 PMUs in substations and on distribution feeders and is actively analyzing the aggregated data. This presentation will outline the programs’ roadmap, objectives, lessons learned and the value of the PMUs on the ComEd system.
Panelist 4:
Name: Omid Alizadeh-Mousavi
Organisation: DEPsys SA – Director R&D, Switzerland
Short biography of the chair: Omid Alizadeh-Mousavi received his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2014. From 2014 to 2015, he was a scientist in power and energy systems group, ABB Corporate Research Center in Baden-Dättwil, Switzerland. Since 2016, he has been a research and development director at DEPsys in Puidoux, Switzerland. His research interests are in power systems with particular reference to optimal system operation and planning, and security and risk assessment. He is the author or coauthor of more than 30 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.
Abstract: Deploying real-time monitoring in distribution grids with sophisticated, cost effective and technically feasible edge computing is imperative to make data-based decisions in systems that traditionally lack visibility. Precise and fast fault identification and localization, accurate power quality monitoring and compliance analysis can be readily enabled by said monitoring.
Panelist 5:
Name: Greg Zweigle
Organisation: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories – R&D Fellow Engineer, USA
Short biography of the chair: Greg Zweigle serves as a Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories fellow engineer and leads a research team developing wide-area power system analysis and control solutions. He holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science, a Master of Science degree in (physical) chemistry, and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Washington State University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Northwest Nazarene University. Greg is a senior member of the IEEE.
Title of presentation: Distribution Time-Synchronized Measurements: Sensors and Applications
Abstract: Distribution places unique requirements for time-series systems. Inverter based resources, proximity to loads, and shorter lines result in higher frequency signal content along with smaller signal changes. This presentation will share research in high-speed time-synchronized sensors and associated applications.