Testing the “smarts” in the smart T & D grid

The growing sophistication and complexity of power system control apparatus and systems plus the addition of new topological features such as distributed generation at the distribution level requires new test environments which can evaluate and optimise these systems prior to deployment in the real system. One such environment is described in this paper along with examples of its use in evaluating application scenarios involving both real and simulated parts of a controlled power system. Future developments in the capability of such environments is briefly described.