The Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS) supports utilities in making optimal usage of the transmission grid capacity and in preventing the spreading of disturbances. By providing on-line information on stability and safety margins for dynamic condition monitoring, it serves as early warning system in case of potential power system disturbances.
The modular system allows selective implementation of hardware and software. Function packages to optimize transmission capacity and to maintain grid integrity by increasing operational and planning safety can be combined with special protection and control schemes at any time. Such schemes can initiate automated preventive or remedial actions and support operators for example in avoiding cascading effects.
The flexible architecture with a system monitoring centre gathering and processing the data from any number of GPS-synchronized phasor measurement units (PMUs) at important nodes allows extension with growing requirements and adaptation to changes in network topology.