Useful links
Unit of study_
ELEC5208: Intelligent Electricity Networks
2025 unit information
This unit aims to give students an introduction to the planning and operation of modern electricity grids, also known as "smart" grids. Traditional power networks featured a small number of large base-load plants sending power out over transmission lines to be distributed in radial lower voltage networks to loads. In response to the need to reduce carbon impact, future networks will feature diverse generation scattered all over the network including at distribution levels. Also there will be new loads such as electric vehicles and technologies including energy storage and lower voltage power flow control devices. The operation of these new networks will be possible by much greater use of information and communication technology (ICT) and control over the information networks. The unit will cover recent relevant developments in energy technologies as well as important components of 'smart grids' such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), substation automation, remote terminal units (RTU), sensors and intelligent electronic devices (IED). Operation of these electricity grids requires a huge amount of data gathering, communication and information processing. The unit will discuss many emerging technologies for such data, information, knowledge and decision processes including communication protocols and network layouts, networking middleware and coordinated control. Information systems and data gathering will be used to assess key performance and security indicators associated with the operation of such grids including stability, reliability and power quality.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Engineering
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | School of Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
None |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
None |
| Assumed knowledge:
?
|
Fundamentals of Electricity Networks, Control Systems and Telecommunications |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the mathematical models of the power and information networks as part of a cyber-physical system in a ‘smart grid
- LO2. explain and evaluate the system capability, stability, reliability from a smart grid perspective
- LO3. model and analyse broadly and design substantial parts of state-of-the-art smart-grid systems while appreciating the issues for further developments
- LO4. design and simulate decision and control systems for smart grid applications including volt-VAR control, FDIR, WAMS
- LO5. demonstrate an understanding of concepts, selected analysis and design techniques in modern power systems, i.e. the interaction of large-scale generation, transmission and distribution including distributed generation, micro-grids and virtual power plants
- LO6. undertake knowledge building by drawing on many and varied information sources specific to the power systems industry for new designs and solutions to problems
- LO7. communicate specific design project material through proper engineering presentations and reports
- LO8. make a substantial contribution to a team project where members have some overlapping and complementary skills.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Semester 1 2025
|
Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
|
Find your current year census dates
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
