Design aspects for large PQ monitoring systems in future smart grids

Power quality (PQ) has become a non-negligible issue for DNOs. More and more sites are being monitored permanently throughout their networks covering almost all voltage levels. Due to the continuously increasing number of measurement sites, certain issues become more and more evident. PQ analyzers usually run only in combination with proprietary software and data transfer methods. The interoperability between different brands is very limited. The efficiency of data handling and data analysis decreases significantly with growing number of measurement sites. On the other hand, new smart meters including more or less PQ functionality are being installed in distribution networks. The use of their data in an efficient way helps to improve the value of these meters for PQ management in future smart grids significantly. This however will depend on the long-term prospective of their design. The paper deals with these new challenges and is focused on key issues of future PQ monitoring, its requirements and implementation possibilities. The paper addresses things like interoperability, distributed storage as well as new and “smart” monitoring and analysis approaches.