Abstract—A modern power grid needs to become smarter in 0 z" y, I: f" Corder to provide an affordable, reliable, and sustainable supply1 C3 i" l( ]& A+ ~! C3 t
of electricity. For these reasons, considerable activity has been: h! y6 b" @/ B& p! D/ R, {, \: f
carried out in the United States and Europe to formulate and 7 j6 w! R( i! @promote a vision for the development of future smart power grids.; N6 P8 F8 N: c" V8 ^5 [
However, the majority of these activities emphasized only the 1 C+ [, ]' ^' p/ I7 Qdistribution grid and demand side leaving the big picture of the ; p- }4 n3 }2 z2 G u1 ktransmission grid in the context of smart grids unclear. This paper 2 G. U) Q8 O U5 K. bpresents a unique vision for the future of smart transmission grids8 k. R) b7 y1 E" E# w' u) B& v
in which their major features are identified. In this vision, each $ h2 @3 Q5 d7 A" ~smart transmission grid is regarded as an integrated system that , \7 i7 t F( d5 r5 a c# ]functionally consists of three interactive, smart components, i.e., , m5 ?, _# d# I9 ]2 x) a% L* U# e: D! K/ ^smart control centers, smart transmission networks, and smart ) C7 }- y3 E N8 v' }" h/ V! j- }substations. The features and functions of each of the three func- ; a& w3 t: a; c) Ytional components, as well as the enabling technologies to achieve5 [6 ?$ _3 B4 }" X1 ^0 ^
these features and functions, are discussed in detail in the paper.8 Q2 a: L9 L- M- K9 R& r
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Author:& Y0 ~& V; ]6 j) J! L# K$ F4 Z
Fangxing (Fran) Li (M’01-SM’05) received the Ph.D. degree from Virginia$ @. l; ?7 {; p9 Z/ H2 f
Tech in 2001. * a; z9 ^' K' `7 u! aHe was with ABB, Raleigh, NC, as a Senior and then a Principal Engineer for+ H5 U2 t6 J0 c
four and one-half years. He has been an Assistant Professor at the University of 7 o- n" g2 K- @8 iTennessee (UT), Knoxville, since August 2005. His research interests include 5 q9 C5 n/ A1 @' u6 k: lenergy market, reactive power, distributed energy and distribution systems, re- + Z5 p2 C4 T/ S Dliability, and computer applications." X1 S+ o; J! R0 I8 O( i8 y
Dr. Li is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of North Carolina.2 c1 p! T" w, u) t. K. W' O
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