Abstract—A modern power grid needs to become smarter in % S9 @! R% C! e* {order to provide an affordable, reliable, and sustainable supply7 r& ~& s6 W( t" L1 X, W/ ^' g; Q
of electricity. For these reasons, considerable activity has been# a: C6 V) {( J1 `8 q
carried out in the United States and Europe to formulate and9 T/ N7 K( B F4 M. W
promote a vision for the development of future smart power grids.* a$ w) x0 @6 v
However, the majority of these activities emphasized only the " v. e! w* Z2 tdistribution grid and demand side leaving the big picture of the ( y8 r Z( l; a/ ~transmission grid in the context of smart grids unclear. This paper ! D: w6 W# x$ ipresents a unique vision for the future of smart transmission grids# y; `/ ]+ D( f' B# j3 ?
in which their major features are identified. In this vision, each0 Q. J! N0 q/ f
smart transmission grid is regarded as an integrated system that : I* p0 _! ?) v: G& R, x; Nfunctionally consists of three interactive, smart components, i.e., ' m D& |5 t3 `* v" |/ c( G* q* g1 ~smart control centers, smart transmission networks, and smart 1 L5 Z2 n) r k; psubstations. The features and functions of each of the three func-) ?3 G' j B+ g3 l" Q8 w% U) B
tional components, as well as the enabling technologies to achieve % Q' [+ [- O: h* Y/ X8 cthese features and functions, are discussed in detail in the paper. U8 T4 Z7 u r4 e" q9 J& ?$ ]2 Z
! v# a$ Z" A+ k$ Y0 a2 \$ G! p, a* |5 e& b
Author: 2 G$ i7 R( B, ?/ M! E% V9 ?Fangxing (Fran) Li (M’01-SM’05) received the Ph.D. degree from Virginia* W u3 `! y3 O2 h/ x
Tech in 2001. ; A3 L1 @; ?2 }9 H6 z: A5 T9 gHe was with ABB, Raleigh, NC, as a Senior and then a Principal Engineer for - A& E+ }& M5 M8 J9 \/ Zfour and one-half years. He has been an Assistant Professor at the University of ) u% `/ N6 L8 S+ iTennessee (UT), Knoxville, since August 2005. His research interests include' O. h' |6 _+ ?8 K* }6 w
energy market, reactive power, distributed energy and distribution systems, re-2 t7 J4 b+ P2 f' X
liability, and computer applications. - y3 `) U- h+ y2 M. U0 l8 T8 ^Dr. Li is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of North Carolina. 0 f7 U+ \5 @+ M+ Z2 r ?8 x9 J2 F5 n/ r1 G) E
8 n- J S( ~( a# i3 k+ i
4 ?3 ?( F# j! G9 g1 |9 g3 I. L