Power grid network control software is designed to ensure smart adaptive regulation of electric power networks to increase efficiency and reliability of the network equipment. For more details on GCS purpose, please see the attached figure.
Under the agreement with FGC UES, control systems for power grid networks should perform the following functions:

• monitoring smart grids and their components;
• control and coordination of operations staff;
• controlling the launch of operating equipment;
• acquiring primary first-response data in case of process malfunctions;
• estimates of power grid modes with new control elements;
• maintaining voltage levels in preset power grid points;
• setting up process modes to facilitate equipment decommissioning;
• long-term and short-term planning for repairs of power grid lines and auxiliary facilities;
• analyzing dispatcher requests for decommissioning equipment and components;
• developing action plans to reduce process losses in grid networks with upgraded control elements;
• control and implementation of technical action plans to ensure safe operation of power lines, equipment and power grid facilities;
• procuring permits for installation of work stations and repairmen access to power grid lines, substations and monitoring of work crews;
• monitoring the implementation of approved dispatcher schedule for electric power flows at pre-determined cross sections;
• regular training and simulation exercises for the operations staff using specialized aids and machines.

• System status assessment, adjusted for new control components;
• Operating limits and equipment load controls;
• Dynamic model of the energy system with adaptive control components;
• Automated dispatcher aid;
• Automated dispatcher aid – regulation reference;
• Power consumption forecast;
• Loss estimator adjusted for new adaptive control components;
• Repairs management adjusted for new control elements;
• Reliability criteria check;
• Machine-operator interface;
• Videowall controls;
• Dispatcher notation system;
• Optimization of electric power modes adjusted for new control elements (within the limits of FGC UES competence).

GCS includes the following software modules designed for the direct grid control function (OMS, NMS, simulators):

• Switch controls and disabling erroneous switch actions;
• Simulator of rapid response switches adjusted for new control elements;
• Analysis of substation emergencies;
• Short circuit current calculations;
• Long-term repair optimization adjusted for new control elements;
• Dispatcher log;
• Generating reports on effectiveness of new control element use;
• Analysis of grid emergencies;
• Optimization of repairs crew management.

The primary purpose of grid control software is to ensure that dispatchers and personnel have ongoing access to the necessary information that currently is concentrated primarily within operations control software and a number of auxiliary databases. This fragmentation of data introduces challenges for integrating various GCS tasks and complicates further development and maintenance of software packages. The use of SIM standard for formatting ongoing, archived and reference data (RD) allows to resolve the challenge of incompatible tasks within GCS.

It is expected that installing GCS in smart grid control systems will result in substantial cost savings due to the following:

• reduced electric power losses;
• streamlining load schedules;
• increased transmission capacity of power lines and cheap generation capacity;
• reduced likelihood of system breakdowns;
• minimized supply shortages for end users;
• lower mandated and required capacity reserves;
• increased installed capacity at power plants.

A key distinguishing feature of the grid control software package is that it may be modified and amended by end users and maintenance staff.