Symmetricom has introduced a new category to its SyncWorld Ecosystem Program dedicated to the power utility industry. Developed to support integration and interoperability among power utility and Symmetricom solutions, the SyncWorld Power Ecosystem aims to facilitate unified deployments of timing and synchronization in substation modernization and synchrophasor applications.
As power utilities shift to the smart grid, they gain the ability to monitor in real time, allowing for proactive operations control. Thus, advanced synchronization and timing are now more critical than ever, enabling power equipment to operate more efficiently and closer to its operational limits. For example, one microsecond accuracy is required by the phasor measurement unit (PMU) for real-time network situational awareness and overall operational efficiency. Without accurate time stamps, PMU data has limited value. For power utility companies, that translates into enhanced network utilization rates as well as smarter management and mixing of renewable and traditional power sources.
"Over the last few years, we have seen an increasing need and value for precise timing and synchronization in power grid infrastructures," said Charles Newton, president, Newton-Evans Research Company. "These functions play a key role in helping power utility companies enhance network utilization rates and improve management and mixing of renewables and traditional power sources."
Ecosystem vendors in the power segment represent all major components required in substation and synchrophasor applications, including switch vendors and intelligent electronic device (IED)/ PMU vendors. In order to participate, vendors must work with Symmetricom to develop a joint solution, complete successful solution testing and commit to ongoing technical and business activities to ensure joint success.
Interoperability is a key requirement to join the SyncWorld Power Ecosystem Program. Using various test cases with a defined standard for testing, Symmetricom focuses its assessment on the performance of a product's IEEE 1588 power profile. During testing, Symmetricom clocks act as the master clocks, switches act as transparent clocks, and IED/PMU products act as slave clocks.
