This paper presents the design, implementation, and real-world application of OpenPMU, an open-source, modular platform for power system measurement. OpenPMU supports both conventional synchrophasor estimation and continuous recording of Time-Synchronised Sampled Values (TSSVs), offering functionality comparable to that of a Merging Unit. The system is designed for flexibility, supporting a wide range of hardware—from low-cost, homebrew solutions to professional-grade equipment—and facilitating plug-and-play integration of additional measurement or logging modules. Communication between modules is achieved using MQTT for transport and JSON or XML data formats, enabling robust, connectionless operation and parallel execution of diverse estimation algorithms.In partnership with the Kigali Collaborative Research Centre (KCRC) and with the support of Rwanda Energy Group (REG), OpenPMU is being deployed in the Rwandan grid to support fault analysis, protection diagnostics, and monitoring of grid stability, particularly in the context of increasing regional interconnections. This paper outlines the system architecture, deployment experience, and practical insights gained from applying open measurement systems in a developing power system context. The work demonstrates the potential of open-source measurement tools to improve observability, enhance situational awareness, and support innovation in grid operations.

IEC 61850-9-2 defines a protocol for transmitting time-synchronised sampled value (SV) data over Ethernet, but its native format is not directly compatible with OpenPMU, an open-source phasor measurement framework. This paper presents a middleware solution that extracts SV data from IEC 61850-9-2 frames and refactors it into OpenPMU format using UDP or MQTT. Implemented in both Python and Rust, performance evaluations show that Rust provides a more versatile solution, overcoming Python’s limitations at high sampling rates. The system has been validated using an IEC 61850-9-2 SV simulator and an SEL-401 merging unit, ensuring accurate conversion and time synchronisation. Additional testing with a Raspberry Pi highlights its potential for embedded applications. Future work includes integrating Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for improved synchronisation and investigating whether the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) can function as a grandmaster clock for the SEL-401. This work enhances interoperability between IEC 61850-9-2 and OpenPMU, supporting advancements in real-time power system monitoring.

Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are essential components in modern power systems; however, they encounter significant challenges in accurately capturing power system behaviour during transient conditions when disturbances affect the network. This paper evaluates PMU performance using residuals from the Goodness-of-Fit (GoF) method applied to events featuring non-sinusoidal waveforms derived from the Irish 230V domestic supply dataset, yielded via OpenPMU. The results demonstrate that residual values significantly differ during transient events compared to normal operating conditions. Among the three cases analysed, the most pronounced non-sinusoidal waveform exhibited residual values as high as 50 V, while the other two cases showed residuals of -31 V and 39 V, respectively.Additionally, this paper introduces a platform, termed the "Transient Forest (TF)," which utilizes Goodness-of-Fit Residuals to detect transient events after the data collection process.

Power engineers seemingly view the quantity "apparent power" as "decomposable." The first decomposition was formalized after 1901 (when reactive power was named), and became more or less "official" when the virtues of the Power Triangle were extolled in 1910. Since then, many more "types" of power have been identified, extracted from apparent power, an operational measure whose RMS calculations conceal any frequency-dependent information in the result. The various "types" of power have contributed to the formulation of a number of operationally-based Power Theories. This paper shows that the decomposition of apparent power is meaningless, that (as an example) apparent power and average power are not related quantities, and that Power Theories are failed attempts to explain an unrecognized measurement problem. If the effect of distortion is to be understood, it must be by means of representational measurements.

This paper presents a study of telecommunications latency relevant to wide-area communications in electrical utility applications, with a particular focus on Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronisation. The increasing deployment of distributed energy resources, remote substations, and wide-area monitoring systems has elevated the importance of reliable and low-latency communication networks in modern power systems. Experimental latency measurements were collected over several weeks using low-cost Raspberry Pi nodes deployed across a range of delivery technologies, including consumer GPON fibre, enterprise-grade optical networks, fixed wireless access (both licensed and unlicensed), and public cellular networks (4G/5G). The latency data was analysed using Python to fit statistical models, including normal, lognormal, and extreme value distributions, providing a quantitative characterisation of each technology's performance. These models inform the design of a WAN simulation platform used to prototype and evaluate the robustness of PTP implementations under realistic network conditions.

This paper presents a non-isolated dual-output DC/DC converter with a high voltage gain based on a Re-lift voltage cell. The design combines a quadratic boost converter (QBC) and a single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC) into a single-stage structure. This configuration achieves a high boost ratio without operating at high-duty cycles. The proposed QBC-SEPIC design cuts the switch voltage stress to half of the output voltage compared to conventional QBCs. It also reduces input current ripple which makes it well-suited for renewable energy sources with variable output. The converter offers common grounding, continuous input current and a compact size. This work compares the proposed topology with recent QBC topologies focusing on voltage gain, component count and switch stress. Simulation and experimental results have been conducted which confirm the analysis with tests performed at 40 V input, 163 V output, 0.3 duty cycle and 100 kHz switching frequency.

The data from phasor measurement units is proving to be of value in power system planning and operation. Verifying their performance is rendered unnecessarily challenging by the way the relevant documentary standard is written. Although much of the content of the latest standard describes testing (the words "test" or "testing" occur more than 160 times) a good deal of the material is either irrelevant or confusing. The PMU is a representational measurement, and for this kind of measurement, it is appropriate to test performance (but it is not appropriate to specify a measurement method, as the standard does). This paper proposes a testing solution based on archiving real world data. It would permit testing of both existing and proposed equipment, with both "synthetic" waveforms and real-world recordings. Cooperation between users and developers would be encouraged, and is expected to lead to further advances in the field of synchronized measurement.

Time synchronization is an important aspect of modern electrical utility measurement practice. Presently, most applications are synchronized to the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time base by means of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, including GPS. GNSS signals are known to be vulnerable to jamming and spoofing attacks, making them a credible attack vector. Precision Time Protocol (PTP) allows for time synchronization across computer networks. Although it has been successful in the IEC 61850 substation environment, there are challenges with its use over wide areas, particularly over public networks. This paper presents an approach which uses microwave fixed wireless access technology to deliver PTP time synchronization across wide geographical areas where pure fiber optic solutions would not be feasible. Preliminary results from a demonstrator system in Ireland are discussed.

This article introduces a new single active switch converter designed to achieve a substantial step-up ratio and dual output within a single stage by employing the Voltage Lift (VL) technique. This converter integrates two boosting topologies, namely a modified Ćuk converter and the quadratic boost converter (QBC). Both the Ćuk and QBC converters have demonstrated their effectiveness and versatility in a wide range of applications, including uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind power generators, fuel cell technology, automotive components, and telecommunications equipment. The proposed converter, QBCUK, employs the VL technique to achieve a high boosting ratio while maintaining a low duty cycle. This design reduces voltage stress on the main power switch compared to the recently developed QBC, thereby enabling the use of lower voltage-rated MOSFETs and reduced ${R_{D{S_{(ON)}}}}$ values, ultimately leading to decreased conduction and switching losses. The article provides an in-depth comparison of the QBCUK converter with various QBC topologies introduced in recent research. The results of this comparative analysis clearly demonstrate that the QBCUK topology delivers a superior performance in terms of achieving a higher step-up ratio and output power across different duty cycles.

Effective analysis of Time-Synchronised Sampled Value (TSSV) waveform data is critical for accurate fault diagnosis and timely response in electrical power systems. However, existing methods for data selection often suffer from limitations such as manual processes and lack of user-friendly tools. This paper presents a software solution designed to address these challenges by providing features tailored specifically for TSSV waveform data analysis. The software may be incorporated into automated event detection workflows, with an example given utilizing Goodness-of-Fit for the data selection process. The software integrates with the established OpenPMU tool chain, and is flexible to support relevant electricity utility standards including IEC 61850-9-2. This paper gives examples of the function of the tool using real data captured from the Irish power system. Future development of the tool will include integration with advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms for predictive fault analysis, highlighting the potential of the proposed software to enhance current practices in power system engineering.

This paper presents a comprehensive review that highlights the characteristics of non-isolated step-up converters based on high boost voltage lifting techniques. The paper categorises the high boost techniques: multistage/multilevel, switched capacitor, voltage multiplier, voltage lift, switched inductor and magnetic coupling. The paper also discusses in detail the advantages and disadvantages for each category such as cost, complexity, power density, reliability and efficiency. The number of passive and active components, voltage gain, voltage stress, switching frequency, efficiency and power rating are also compared. Although the paper considers coupling inductors in the context of the non-isolated converter, the focus of the entire article is on the non-isolated high voltage step-up techniques. The key contribution in this paper is the review of high boosting techniques rather than the DC /DC converters. This allows divergence of new ideas and new power converters that will help provide highly efficient and flexible power converters for several applications where the sending end voltage is very low as photovoltaic systems. In addition, many applications and control techniques of DC/DC converters are summarised in this paper.

Current building codes require that new central heating appliances such as oil and gas fired boilers be accompanied by a room thermostat and programmer. The location of the thermostat can lead to problems in operating the central heating system when the temperature local to the thermostat is not consistent with the temperature in rooms where there is demand. Likewise, the interaction with other energy saving measures, such as thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) can produce control issues and lead to negative end user experiences. This paper considers an alternative approach using low cost temperature sensors, open source software and hardware, and interactive dashboard to assist end users in optimizing their energy use with a view to reducing demand and fuel costs.

Increasing integration of distributed energy resources (DER) in the electrical network has led distribution network operators to unprecedented challenges. This issue is compounded by the lack of monitoring infrastructure on the low voltage (LV) side of distribution networks at residential and utility sides. Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) methods provide an opportunity to add value to conventional electric measurements and to increase the observability of LV networks for the implementation of active management network techniques and intelligent control of DER. This work proposes a novel implementation of NILM methods for the identification of DER electrical signatures from aggregated measurements taken at the LV side of a distribution transformer. The implementation evaluates three machine learning algorithms such as k Nearest Neighbours (kNN), random forest and a multilayer perceptron under 100 scenarios of DER integration. A year of minutely reported values of electric current, voltage, active power, and reactive power are used to train and test the proposed model. The $F_{1}$ scores achieved of 73% and 93% for Electrical Vehicles (EV) and rooftop photovoltaic (PV) respectively and processing times below $314~\mu \text{s}$ on an Intel Core i7-8700 machine. These results confirm the relevance of the NILM method based on low frequency electric measurements from the real-time identification of DER.

Precision time, traceable to Coordinated Universal Time, is a requirement for some power grid applications. Accuracy in milliseconds (10 −3 ) is achievable using Network Time Protocol over wide area networks. Accuracy in microseconds (10 −6 ) is achievable using GNSS as a basis for time synchronization and this is a minimum standard for some applications. However, satellite signals are easy to jam over wide areas. Precision Time Protocol (PTP) may provide an adequate source of precision time over wide area networks. For it to be utilized, uncertainty in measurement must be quantifiable and a range of network design constraints are required to match the application. In this paper, an inexpensive test bed is constructed and tested, and initial measurements are made of precision.

This paper explores Named Data Networking (NDN) for secure Industrial IoT (IIoT) communications in smart grid applications. NDN is a next generation networking paradigm, which is data-centric and has the benefit of built-in security properties, such as data integrity. This work applies NDN to IEEE C37.118.2 PMU communications, as an example smart grid IIoT application, and proposes a new data-encapsulation approach for NDN for low latency data streaming. The proposed communication architecture allows sensor data streaming with a lower overhead compared to related work. Communications are demonstrated to be secured using a trust anchor which protects data integrity and provides data authentication, while supporting optional data encryption. The proposed solution represents IEEE C37.118.2 in a JSON format, which provides flexibility and facilitates application of the approach to different use cases.

This paper presents a research context on the virtualization of phasor measurement units (PMUs) and real-time power grids simulation with state estimation. In this research, real-time simulation is introduced to use powerful features for validating state estimation solutions with PMUs. Virtual and online measurement equipment are reviewed in this manuscript to develop an innovative integration of the OpenPMU incorporated with a real-time simulation power grid and additional virtualized PMUs. The implementation of the platform has useful features within the infrastructure that allows the user to reproduce a detailed modeled power grid with simulation software. The use of real-time simulation tools brings several possibilities for improving testing and prototype assessment with higher precision in different applications. In this case, 2 tests power systems are evaluated by realistic integration of IEC61850-9-2 data utilization to observe the performance of a customized state estimation approach. The study implements a versatile methodology for commissioning OpenPMU devices, interacting simultaneously with additional virtual PMUs within the same simulation through sampled values (SV) to validate the measurement frames and assess the estimation with the generated data. Finally, the proposed work identifies the potential of virtualizing PMUs and the features of the OpenPMU applied to state estimation in conjunction with real-time simulation data.

The Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) is perhaps the first representational measurement widely dispersed in the electric power system. Its usefulness has been demonstrated on many occasions. It is shown in this paper that the excellent performance of the PMU is a tribute to PMU makers, and not attributable to the standards that are supposed to specify the performance. The IEEE and IEC standards illustrate, by means of a “reference model,” how a PMU can be made. Both standards base the model on two fundamental conceptual errors. Without these errors several improvements in performance could be made. The standards should be revised to remove the restrictive “guidance” that the reference model presently offers, and to correct the text so that the appropriate concepts are presented.

This article proposes a new high step up DC-to-DC converter with single active switch based on voltage lift technique and voltage multiplier. N-stage quadratic boost converter is used by replacing its inductor with a voltage lift cell to improve the voltage gain with an average duty ratio. In this work, the voltage multiplier cell can double the voltage conversion ratio making the voltage stress on the switching device half the output voltage. The proposed converter also has small input and output current ripple, and it has a simple structure with a higher power density and flexible controllability. Theoretically, the input voltage can be increased by the ratio of 32 at a 0.5 duty ratio reducing the voltage stress on the device by 50% of the output voltage providing higher voltage gain and output power than its counterparts. Simulation results are provided using MATLAB/Simulink to validate the proposed topology.