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Advances in the Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F1: Electrical Power System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2026) | Viewed by 1710

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Electrical Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin 17058, Republic of Korea
Interests: power system protection; current transformer; power system; power transformer; power system automation; electric power; relay device; digital substation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ongoing transformation of power systems—driven by the integration of renewable energy, the rise of distributed generation, the deployment of smart grid infrastructures, and innovations in power electronics—has introduced significant challenges and opportunities in the domains of protection and control. The growing deployment of inverter-based resources, digital substations, and AC/DC hybrid networks has added new layers of complexity to system behavior, coordination, and security.

In this evolving landscape, protection systems need to not only detect and isolate faults with speed and precision but also adapt to dynamic topologies, bidirectional power flows, and uncertain grid conditions. In parallel, advanced control strategies play a critical role in ensuring system stability, enhancing operational resilience, enabling optimal energy management, and supporting seamless integration of diverse and distributed energy resources.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest research achievements and practical innovations in the protection and control of modern power systems. We invite original contributions that address theoretical advancements, simulation and modeling techniques, field implementations, and forward-looking applications that reflect the future of intelligent, secure, and reliable power systems.

 Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Protection and automation in distribution, transmission, and railway power systems;
  • Protection and control in AC, DC, and hybrid AC/DC grids including HVDC, MVDC, and LVDC systems;
  • Adaptive, self-healing, and data-driven protection schemes;
  • Protection and control strategies for microgrids and active distribution networks;
  • Wide-area protection and control using synchrophasor (PMU) technologies;
  • Intelligent and AI/ML-based protection and control applications;
  • Fault detection, classification, location, and isolation techniques;
  • Protection coordination in multi-terminal, inverter-rich, and DER-dominated systems;
  • Frequency and voltage control strategies in weak and inverter-dominated grids;
  • Communication architectures, data interoperability, and system integration challenges;
  • Simulation, modeling, and planning tools for automated protection and control;
  • Resilient and fault-tolerant control strategies for critical energy infrastructures.

We look forward to receiving high-quality submissions that advance the state of the art and provide practical insights into the evolving landscape of modern power system protection and control.

Prof. Dr. Soon-Ryul Nam
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • adaptive protection
  • AI in Power Systems
  • digital substations
  • fault detection
  • hybrid AC/DC grids
  • inverter-based resources
  • microgrid control
  • modern power systems
  • protection and control
  • resilient operation
  • synchrophasor measurements

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 6377 KB  
Article
A Novel Ground Distance Protection Algorithm for Non-Uniform Power Transmission Lines
by Ali Toruş and Mehmet Bayrak
Energies 2026, 19(4), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19040966 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 398
Abstract
In this paper, the performance of a conventional distance protection relay employing a single ground compensation factor (k0) per protection zone is investigated for non-uniform transmission lines consisting of mixed overhead line and underground cable sections. In such composite lines, the [...] Read more.
In this paper, the performance of a conventional distance protection relay employing a single ground compensation factor (k0) per protection zone is investigated for non-uniform transmission lines consisting of mixed overhead line and underground cable sections. In such composite lines, the use of a single k0 value may lead to inaccurate apparent impedance calculation during phase-to-ground faults due to significant differences in zero- and positive-sequence parameters among line sections. To address this limitation, a novel ground distance protection algorithm is proposed, which applies separate ground compensation factors corresponding to individual line sections within the same distance protection zone. The proposed algorithm dynamically identifies the faulted line section based on the measured reactance and selects the appropriate compensation factor accordingly. A three-section composite transmission line model is developed in the ATP–EMTP environment, including overhead and cable segments with different electrical characteristics. Phase-to-ground faults are simulated at various locations along each line section, and the apparent impedances calculated using the proposed algorithm are quantitatively compared with those obtained from the classical ground distance protection algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that, under resistive fault conditions (Rarc = 1 Ω), the proposed method reduces impedance magnitude estimation errors from over 23% to below 7%, while maintaining comparable or improved angle estimation accuracy across the protected zone. Although the proposed algorithm introduces an additional computational step due to the selection of appropriate ground compensation factors for individual line sections, this aspect has not been evaluated under real-time conditions and is left for future implementation-oriented studies. Overall, the proposed approach offers a practical and effective solution for improving ground distance protection performance in non-uniform transmission lines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems)
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20 pages, 985 KB  
Article
A Novel Approach to Automating Overcurrent Protection Settings Using an Optimized Genetic Algorithm
by Mario A. Londoño Villegas, Eduardo Gómez-Luna, Luis A. Gallego Pareja and Juan C. Vasquez
Energies 2026, 19(2), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19020529 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 494
Abstract
In electrical networks, the coordination and selectivity of protective devices are key to improving reliability and ensuring operational safety. Protections play a fundamental role in maintaining system stability and detecting faults within the power system. This study presents an optimized genetic algorithm (OGA) [...] Read more.
In electrical networks, the coordination and selectivity of protective devices are key to improving reliability and ensuring operational safety. Protections play a fundamental role in maintaining system stability and detecting faults within the power system. This study presents an optimized genetic algorithm (OGA) as a method to optimize the configurations of overcurrent protections in high voltage distribution systems. The OGA obtained the best results in all tested systems, demonstrating its effectiveness in coordinating protections according to IEC 60255-151:2009. In addition, simulations performed with the integration of Python and PowerFactory DigSILENT software validated the correct coordination of the protections, showing that the OGA not only optimizes response times, but also guarantees greater selectivity and reliability in the protection of the electrical system in an efficient way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems)
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