Future wide area monitoring requirements for the GB transmission system

The Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) is deemed vital to achieving the wide area monitoring and control requirements of the Smart Grid. The devices are capable of capturing time synchronised power system quantities at a very high resolution and accuracy. They are intended to provide key control inputs to both, intra-network High Voltage DC (HVDC) links and potential Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) installations. In order to successfully implement the necessary control systems a fully robust monitoring solution is required. In this paper we review the operational requirements of such a PMU based system in terms of improving the observability of the transmission network, ultimately guaranteeing security of supply. The existing system installed at National Grid is discussed.