Abstract—A modern power grid needs to become smarter in ) X: O2 T3 C0 dorder to provide an affordable, reliable, and sustainable supply 9 E$ r8 `, J- Q; |! ?4 n5 y4 zof electricity. For these reasons, considerable activity has been : b6 c. p) N" n& c1 }# P6 scarried out in the United States and Europe to formulate and. C" t5 j. R9 G$ U4 {
promote a vision for the development of future smart power grids.8 ?4 U* C. ]4 j1 y" P: J: _8 h
However, the majority of these activities emphasized only the " d5 S7 [7 X/ a7 j( E9 xdistribution grid and demand side leaving the big picture of the! \* j7 Z U/ d) B2 q" E
transmission grid in the context of smart grids unclear. This paper 3 o0 y9 E" v% K' A2 k) B% Tpresents a unique vision for the future of smart transmission grids* |8 L3 |% \8 |' Q% e( `1 @
in which their major features are identified. In this vision, each ! X% e' I' v: Z' [smart transmission grid is regarded as an integrated system that: c5 K4 @* r) P7 V# d. ~6 q
functionally consists of three interactive, smart components, i.e.,0 V3 q* a/ v4 q5 |" L* Q
smart control centers, smart transmission networks, and smart 8 f* h6 _& J: v5 E0 E: Ksubstations. The features and functions of each of the three func- $ [5 D$ Q4 L: `- }tional components, as well as the enabling technologies to achieve) t$ L, I6 S+ m0 C9 [9 @
these features and functions, are discussed in detail in the paper.. I0 D$ i, U+ M7 k! Y; {3 r& Z8 P
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Author: ; G0 ~" {5 `+ g, \' vFangxing (Fran) Li (M’01-SM’05) received the Ph.D. degree from Virginia$ s4 z9 j ~3 Q
Tech in 2001. / f- @/ o( D& gHe was with ABB, Raleigh, NC, as a Senior and then a Principal Engineer for- b2 S: ^, `2 t! R
four and one-half years. He has been an Assistant Professor at the University of 6 ]' ^) z/ G) n. g. QTennessee (UT), Knoxville, since August 2005. His research interests include& A2 {$ {- O5 d/ F% C- J
energy market, reactive power, distributed energy and distribution systems, re-4 b) M3 d v$ ~' L1 G% t
liability, and computer applications. 5 e' S/ @! Q+ b6 Z5 uDr. Li is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of North Carolina.+ c6 R9 ?6 T" P
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