Smart Grid Strategic EMC Recommendations for the Future

Developing a long-term strategy to ensure Smart Grid devices can operate in changing electromagnetic environments

Grid devices that before now were electromechanical in nature were inherently immune to their electromagnetic environment. With the introduction of digital and solid-state electronic controls, the immunity of these devices has been dramatically reduced. The electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) immunity levels of the past could have been continued if the electronic parts in these devices were shielded or filtered using current design practices, but they are typically not shielded or their shield is insufficiently designed and applied. From a strategic perspective of maintaining a good EMC application, any hardware or device “upgrades” need to be completely tested to establish their immunity as well as determining whether there is enough emission control to meet present FCC regulations for emissions and sufficient immunity control to perform correctly in the EME.

What’s in the report

This whitepaper proposes strategic recommendations to achieve and continue to achieve Smart Grid system electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) with the electromagnetic environment (EME) surrounding the power grid. It is understood that there are different opinions on how to handle EMC matters. The intent of this Guide is to address whether a “wait and see” approach will work in the long run or whether there is a need to become proactive to ensure that electronic devices will continue to work and interoperate during the expected lifetime of these installed devices. These recommendations reflect a five-to-ten year strategy to maintain EMC as the Smart Grid evolves.

The white paper covers:

• Why an EMC strategy is necessary
• EMC test to support a long-term strategy
• How to audit Smart Grid devices for EMC
• Example EMC Strategies

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