The role of GRTN in the project, as end-user, has been mainly focused on the definition of the Emergency Control requirements (''Needs expression phase'') and on the start-up of the ''sample field experimentation''.
As far as this last issue, it has been scheduled with the primary objective to validate the selected SC-EM architecture, and to gather more information on the on-site behaviour of PMUs. GRTN, as Italian Transmission Operator, has the responsibility to implement this task on the Italian grid.
This activity has been mainly concentrated on the development of a communication scheme, based on two complementary directions: a) from the field to the central system, taking care of data acquisition and elaboration of appropriate control strategies; b) from the centre to the field, aiming at issuing appropriate commands to some fast tripping equipment.
a) In order to pursue the EXaMINE objectives, it has been planned to install a number of Phase Measurement Units (PMUs) in the Italian electric system, with the purpose of recording inter-area oscillations and supporting the identification of transient and voltage stability phenomena. As a first step, it has been decided to install 5 PMUs at some important electric nodes of the Italian network, mainly with the scope of validating calculation algorithms, data transfer procedures and following elaborations. The implementation of these monitoring systems is in progress. As already mentioned, the agreed chronological program foresees the completion of installations by the end of 2003.
b) The need of very fast tripping signals is a critical point for SC-EM. In order to overcome this problem, it was decided to develop some equipment capable to manage both generators tripping and load shedding actions in very fast time (< 200 ms). This equipment is going to be widely installed on the Italian grid both for EXaMINE purposes and for other real-time applications, like the fast management of Interruptible Contracts.
The main objective of the future GRTNs Exploitation plan is the integration of the EXaMINE concept into a comprehensive Emergency Control strategy in Italy (SICE - Sistema Integrato per il Controllo in Emergenza del sistema elettrico). The main activities to be performed are as follows.
1) Complete implementation of the on-going first-step open-loop Mini SCADA experimentation. The full implementation will be based on the validation of the first-stage Fast tripping and Monitoring System experimentations and then on the following integration of these two parts into a single overall communication scheme for SC-EM.
2) Full integrated testing environment.
GRTN will give its support to the Research partners of the project for the finalization of the full integrated testing environment, in order to start-up an extended simulation campaign for validating the E-SIME and VIDA algorithms.
3) Installation and possible improvements analysis of the currently available equipment.
The analysis of data from the field experimentation should give evidence of the adequacy of the currently available equipment. Further investigations should be continued on commercially available new apparatus, following the international trend of enriching traditional transient recorders with additional functions, including phasor measurement. A wide installation of PMUs in the Italian Grid is expected in the near future. Moreover, the possibility of integrating in a single apparatus both fast-tripping functions and phasor measurement capabilities will be investigated.
4) SICE development.
If the previous testing activities will be successful, the Integration into a single environment (SICE) of the EXaMINE machine with another on-going GRTN project, related to the network Dynamic Security Assessment, will be undertaken.
5) Integration of SC-PM and SC-EM.
In parallel with the SICE integration, an in-depth analysis for the possibility of implementing the EXaMINE Static Security Analysis in the Italian context will be undertaken, with a view for introducing Distributed Parallel Load Flow and State Estimator as an alternative to the currently available algorithms at GRTN.