Role of microphasor measurement unit for decision making based on enhanced situational awareness of a modern distribution system

Deregulation of the power system along with the advancement in renewable energy has increased the penetration of distributed generation in the distribution system. This has transformed the traditional, simple, unidirectional, and radial distribution system to modern, complex, and bidirectional distribution system or microgrid. This has introduced uncertainty and variability in the distribution system that makes it inevitable to continually observe and monitor its operating states. This needs advanced and precise measurements such as microphasor measurement unit (µPMU). Phasor measurement unit (PMU) has already proved its worth in wide-area situational awareness of transmission system by providing precise synchronized voltage and current phasors, frequency, and rate of change of frequency. The basic components and principle of µPMU are similar to PMU, but the former has to meet more challenges to be suitably implemented in modern distribution system. High-resolution time-synchronized µPMU measurement can offer valuable insights for making important decisions to actively manage the modern distribution systems and enhance its situational awareness.