New Protection Schemes in Smarter Power Grids With Higher Penetration of Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract Traditional power system protection principles, schemes, and technologies are continuously being challenged by the proliferation of highly distributed stochastic renewable energy sources (RES). In the presence of such massive penetrations of intermittencies and uncertainties in the electricity grid, the dependability and security of the protection systems may be compromised. To address these challenges, it calls for new adaptive techniques, transformative mindsets, and advanced technologies for the secure, resilient, affordable, and dependable protection systems in the electric grids of the future. This chapter overviews and discusses the protection challenges of the massively RES-integrated transmission systems, distribution systems, and microgrids and also offers the possible solutions that can help realize a robust, adaptive, and yet affordable protection schemes in smart grids.