Smart grids facilitate the implementation of sophisticated system protection schemes (SPS)

In this paper, the impacts of DERs on the designed SPSs are investigated and some solutions based on the progressively developing communication infrastructure of the newly evolving smart grids are proposed to maintain the integrity of the power system in extreme contingencies. A sample system with high penetration of DERs is considered and a SPS is designed for the system. Afterwards the impact of DERs on the capability of the designed SPS is evaluated. Smart grids establish a comprehensive backbone for a reliable data communication among the system equipments which could be very well exploited in enhancement of SPS performance. It is shown that sophisticated SPS designs could be very well exploited in smart grids in the favour of developing communication infrastructure; an astonishing task that is nearly impossible in conventional power systems due to the lack of bilateral communication infrastructure.