The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has announced the global availability of the industry’s first uniform test plan for evaluating the conformance of synchrophasors to IEEE C37.118.1, its standard for synchrophasor measurements for power systems.

Introduction of the IEEE Synchrophasor Measurement Test Suite Specification is another key step toward a comprehensive conformity assessment programme for synchrophasors, which provide real-time measurement of electric power grids to help ensure stable operations and avert blackouts.

“Synchrophasors are such a promising technology with regard to grid modernisation around the world. To this point, however, gauging compliance to the IEEE C37.118.1 standard has been left to the interpretation of the given organisation doing the testing, producing market confusion and fragmentation,” said Anthony Johnson, PE, consulting engineer with Southern California Edison. “The new IEEE Synchrophasor Measurement Test Suite Specification provides a comprehensive, dependable plan that any manufacturer globally can use in the design stage to test their phasor measurement unit (PMU) products for eventual certification.”

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) supported development of the IEEE Synchrophasor Measurement Test Suite Specification toward the goal of encouraging market adoption of synchrophasor technologies supporting a highly resilient and reliable grid capable of accommodating higher penetration of renewable resources.

“A comprehensive synchrophasor conformity assessment programme is definitively taking shape, and the development of the IEEE Synchrophasor Measurement Test Suite Specification is another milestone along that path,” said Adam Newman, senior director, business development and alliance management services, IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA). “Facilitating the open, multidimensional collaboration among industry, academia and government in this effort demonstrates the IEEE-SA’s commitment to delivering value throughout the standard lifecycle-beyond development and publication-in order to spur deployment of technologies that are based on IEEE standards.”