The students who pass the exam will be able to understand the basic concepts referring to the structure and operation of the smart grid at the transmission and distribution levels; use the correct terminology to address power system problems referring to smart grids; interpret appropriately the role of smart grids in the current energy system context; formulate and solve problems referring to smart grid applications and choosing the suitable methodologies; understand the roles and impacts of Renewable and distributed energy resources in power system management, and their connections with ICT solutions for communication, control and data management; understand the role and challenges of energy trading among prosumers, especially the ICT techniques that could support the bilateral/self-organized trading among them (blockchain) as well as supporting the dispatch and operation of the system operators. The minimum objectives to be reached as learning outcomes include the ability to use the correct terminology in addressing the problems concerning smart grid applications, and the ability to interpret and tackle the problems concerning the introduction of new scenarios and technologies in the smart grids.

The prerequisites include the knowledge of basic electrotechnics, basic programming knowledge, a basic understanding of how the energy system works, some AI algorithms.

Introductory concepts: Introduction of structure of the electricity transmission and distribution systems, and new emergent paradigms: smart grids, super grids, microgrids. Electricity transmission and distribution: Three-phase systems in balanced condition. Characteristics and modelling of generators (including both traditional and renewable), lines, transformers, loads and storage systems. Technical evolution of the network infrastructure. Meshed, radial and reconfigurable weakly meshed network representations. The basic concept of inertia in the smart grids and the impact of RES on the inertia and the leading new scenario of grid operation under low inertia. Network analysis: Matrix-based representation of the network. Power flow calculations in radial and weakly meshed networks. Principles of network protection. Relays, switchgears, protective devices. Measurement technologies and applications. Notes on the IEC Standardization, such as IEC 61580. Italian electricity market and price prediction algorithms: Introduction to the real-world electricity market (Italian case) and discussing suitable price prediction algorithms for electricity as well as information on data availability. Prosumer communities: Features of the emerging distribution systems (EDS), General framework for modeling the emerging distribution systems, Multi-layer emerging distribution systems as complex systems, an application to simulate the self-sustainable prosumers community in the EDS, example build on IEEE33 distribution test system. Energy digitalization and blockchain: Electricity digitalization trends & policies, distributed ledger technologies, blockchain, use cases & applications, power system blockchain solutions, energy system blockchain, solutions, integrated blockchain solutions, blockchain enablers & roadblocks. Smart grid architecture models: smart grid definitions and notions, the concept of the smart grid reference model, some smart grid models and framework activities, motivation for smart grid architecture model (SGAM), the definition of SGAM, SGAM plane domains, and SGAM hierarchical zones. Advanced Metering Infrastructure: Introduction of the metering infrastructure supporting the measuring data from the field and household to the control centre. Special focus will be given to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system and Wide Area Monitoring System. The cyber security on different segments will be discussed as well, such as bad data detection, risk management, vulnerability detection and countermeasures. Communication networks for smart grids: various ways of communications and protocols will be discussed for different applications in smart grids, such as Zigbee, WiFi, Power line carrier, Power over ethernet, etc. Specific aspects of ICT applications for smart grid operation.: analysis of real cases.

The course will also give several simplified real-life cases for the student to model and solve, in an open fashion. The results will be discussed to inspire out-of-box thinking in the students on solving the real problems in the smart grid. The practical work would be evaluated with 0 to 5 points directly added to the written exam (which has the maximum of 27 points). The maximum total score would be 32 which allow the student to obtain 30L.

The lectures present the course contents, with numerical examples and calculations. Several practical works and projects will be conducted during the course, based on computer-based simulation or programming. No experimental activity is planned. The indicative structure of the course is:  Introduction to the course and review of the 3 phase systems (1.5h)  Models for power system components (1.5 h)  Power flow Analysis AC + DC (3h)  Basic economic theories and electricity markets (3h)  Practical work for solving power flow (3h)  Generation in power systems: traditional vs. RES (3h)  Fault, protection and reliability (3h)  Concept of inertia in power systems (1.5h)  Italian electricity market and price prediction algorithms (3h)  Advanced Metering Infrastructure (3h)  Self-sustainable prosumer community in emerging distribution grids (3h)  State estimation and bad data detection (3h)  Blockchain technologies and energy digitalization (3h)  Microgrids (3h)  Communications for the Smart Grids (3h)  Home area networks: ZigBee (3h)  Power Line Communications (1.5h)  Power over Ethernet (1.5h)  Vehicle to grid communication (3h)  Cyber-security in smart grid (6h)  Smart grid reference model and architectures (3h)  Project presentation (2h)

There is no commercial book covering the contents of this course. The material (slides and handouts) used during the lectures and course activities will be available on the web portal.

Lecture notes;

Exam: Written test;

The exam is written, with multiple-choice questions and open questions. The rationale for this type of exam is to verify that the main concepts have been fully understood, the minimum objectives have been reached, and the students are able to identify the salient aspects and synthesize these aspects in a written document. The exam is composed of a mandatory written part (with a maximum score 27/27). 5 points will be evaluated based on the practical works/projects, which may allow the student to reach a possible 32 for the 30L. During the exam, the students have to respond to a number of questions (multiple-choice and open questions) referring to the entire course programme provided in a written way, with the possible inclusion of numerical exercises. The main competencies evaluated are the ability to illustrate concepts, formulate problems, describe solution methods, and solve possible numerical exercises. The written test has a duration of 2 hours. The time limit for completing the test is indicated on the blackboard at the beginning of the period. During the test, the Commission identifies the location of the students. The students must exhibit a valid document with a photo. During the test, the students may exit from the room only if they withdraw from the test to deliver the final writing. In case of withdrawal, the text of the exam has to be given back with the indication of the student’s name and surname on the first page and with the writing “WITHDRAWN” or “NOT DELIVERED”. When the writing is delivered, the text with the indication of the student’s name and surname must be included in the delivered material. The students may use only clean paper, pen, and pocket calculator. Personal computers, laptops, tablets, or equipment for taking photos are not allowed. The clothes and the personal belongings must not remain on the work plan, nor under the desk, and must be closed and located in a position in which the contents relevant to the exam cannot be reached. Contacting other persons or material is not admitted. If a student is found with any material not allowed in an accessible location, or contacting other persons, his/her test is immediately annulled and the student will have to leave the room. Any question concerning the test must be addressed to a member of the exam Commission. In case the question is of general interest, a member of the exam Commission will inform all the students participating in the exam of the answers to the asked question. The students will receive the text of the two parts (multiple-choice questions and open questions) in separate sheets at the beginning of the exam; the student’s name and ID must be indicated on all sheets received. In the part with multiple-choice questions, there is no penalty for incorrect or missing responses, and it has to be completed and given to the Commission before the end of the first hour. The solutions to the open questions must be returned to the examiner before the end of the second hour. At that moment, if the correction of the multiple-choice questions is already completed, the student will know the result and will have to decide immediately whether or not to withdraw from the exam. In case the correction is not yet completed, the answers to the open questions will have to be given to the examiner, waiting for the results obtained for the multiple-choice questions until available, remaining at the desk, then the student will inform the examiners of his/her decision. In case of withdrawal, the decision will be indicated on all sheets. The results of the exam will be communicated through the web portal. The students will have the possibility of viewing their corrected material during the period of the current exam session, on the date communicated by the professor responsible for the course.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.