Abstract | Metrology, as the science of measurement, is the very basis for acquiring scientific knowledge. In electric power systems, measurements of electrical and non-electrical quantities are necessary for monitoring, control, protection, and sage and reliable operation. Another significant application is revenue metering for industrial, commercial and residential customers. In today’s interdependent world, ensuring uniform metrology inside and across national boundaries is an important enabling factor of national and international trade, including the electrical energy trade. The introduction of distributed power generation, renewable energy resources, and deregulation of electric power utilities has in many countries, been transforming the electric power grids. We are witnessing exciting developments in metrology, on which the Smart Grid is based. This includes smart metering, synchro phasor and frequency measurements, wide-area protection, wide-area situational awareness, digital substations, energy storage and other evolving power system technologies. The proliferation of harmonics in the grid has been increasing over the last decades. With the prominent role of power electronics in new Smart Grid developments, this trend continues. The increased penetration of electric vehicles (EV) and the EV infrastructure emphasizes the necessity for wide frequency band measurements of distorted waveforms. New instrumentation and measurement methods for industrial applications at high-voltage and high-current levels are being developed. The digital measurements of voltage, current, phase, frequency, power and energy are continually improving. This is pushing the boundaries of the high accuracy measurements needed for calibrations. The role of National Measurements Institutes in providing the highest accuracy measurement standards and traceability to SI units is essential. The SI is undergoing profound changes, and the new revised SI is about to be adopted. Metrology has a key role in the research, development and innovation of evolving electric power grid. In the words of Lord Kelvin: “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.” |
---|