Smart grid opportunities in islanding detection

The performance of many existing islanding detection methods for cases with multiple distributed generators within a single island is either inadequate or unknown. The deployment of Smart Grid technologies offers opportunities for improving the islanding detection of a circuit. This paper gives a brief overview of types of islanding detection methods, lists suitability of different types of methods to cases with multiple instances of distributed generation, and discusses impacts of deployment of Smart Grid technologies including increased penetration of communications technology, multifunction distributed energy resource products such as solid state transformers, synchrophasors, smart meters, and electric vehicle service equipment.