Synchrophasor technology: The boom of investments and information flow from North America to Latin America

The Smart Grid Investment Grants (SGIG) by the USA federal government at the transmission level are focused primarily on synchrophasor technology and bring an adequate platform to initiate the paradigm shift from SCADA-based real time monitoring at 5 to 10 seconds updating rate to synchrophasor-based real time monitoring at 30-60 samples per second updating rate. The current projects in the USA are marking the initial state of a transition for synchrophasor applications towards its integration to the EMS at the control center. This paper initiates with an overview of the main synchrophasor technology applications based on current projects in the USA. One specific synchrophasor project, currently executed by a joint effort between Virginia Tech, Dominion and Quanta Technology is described in detail including specific synchrophasor applications and future plans. An update of the synchrophasor technology applications being implemented by XM in Colombia are discussed in detail. The paper presents alternatives in which information and expertise may flow between utilities in the USA as well as to other utilities which have experience and/or plans with synchrophasor technology in Latin America.