Synchrophasor Technology and the DOE: Exciting Opportunities Lie Ahead in Development and Deployment

Synchrophasor technology has grown from a handful of phasor measurement units (PMUs) in the U.S. Pacific Northwest to a continental network of almost 2,000 PMUs in the past decade, which has helped to improve reliability of the North American electric bulk power grid. This progress is due in large part to research and deployment investments that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been making since the late 1990s to accelerate the development, adoption, and maturity of this valuable technology. The DOE?s early vision was that better real-time tools could improve grid reliability and prevent blackouts; today, the entire industry recognizes that synchrophasor technology can improve grid planning and investment decisions, enhance operational reliability, facilitate renewables integration, and reduce many operating and asset costs.