EPSSCOM Electrical Power System Simulation Competition Assessment 2026

• Bus voltage profiles, cable and transformer loading percentages, and active/reactive power losses.
• N-1 contingency performance for the loss of one incoming 132 kV feeder and one transformer.  Voltage regulation compliance and identification of any bus voltage violations.
• Power factor performance and the need for reactive power compensation. Assume the utility requirement is 0.90 minimum. Propose solutions with sizing.

 Propose 11 kV outgoing cable sizing for:

•  PMU B to SSU A
•  PMU B to SSU B

Bus tie cable from left bus to right bus Refer to the cable specifications in Appendix B D.

Question 2  Short Circuit Analysis and Equipment Rating Verification

Perform an IEC 60909 short circuit analysis for three-phase and single-phase-to-earth faults. Determine:

• Maximum and minimum fault levels at all major busbars (132 kV and 11 kV).
• Whether existing switchgear, cable, RMU, and FP equipment ratings are adequate; recommend upgrades or mitigation if fault levels exceed ratings.
• The earth fault current magnitude for a single-line-to-earth fault on the 11 kV cable. Explain the governing factors and identify any missing earthing provisions in the design.
• How the connection of DER (inverter-based generation and BESS) modifies fault current contributions, and whether equipment ratings remain valid under DER integration scenarios.

Question 3  Protection Coordination and DER Integration Develop

a protection philosophy for:

• The 132 kV incoming cable protection.
• The 132/11 kV transformer protection.
• 11 kV feeder protection.
• Perform protection coordination studies for overcurrent and earth fault protection, where applicable.

In addition, address how the introduction of DER at the 11 kV level affects:

• Directional protection requirements and relay coordination.
• Anti-islanding protection and loss-of-mains detection.
• The need to update protection settings as DER penetration increases.

Question 4  Hosting Capacity Assessment

Quantify the DER hosting capacity of the 11 kV distribution network using a deterministic or probabilistic approach. Specifically:

• Determine the maximum PV generation that can be connected before any statutory voltage, thermal, or fault-level limit is violated.
• Identify the binding constraint (voltage rise, thermal overload, or fault level) that limits HC under different load scenarios (peak, off-peak, minimum load).
• Assess how BESS placement and sizing can be used to shift the HC constraint and increase overall DER penetration.
•  Propose optimal DER and BESS locations to maximise HC across the network.

Question 5  Advanced Planning for Load Growth and DER Expansion

Develop a 10-year network capacity plan that accounts for projected load growth (5% per year) and increasing DER penetration. Address:

• The impact of load growth on transformer and cable utilisation, and the staged reinforcement required to maintain adequate hosting capacity.
• A DER integration roadmap specifying technology type, sizing, phasing, and grid connection requirements for each stage of expansion.
• The role of operational flexibility measures (demand response, BESS dispatch, smart inverter volt-var control) in deferring or avoiding capital network reinforcement.

Recommended Software

Participants may use any of the following software packages, or other recognised power system analysis tools, to complete the required studies:

•  DIgSILENT PowerFactory
•  ETAP
•  PSS®E
•  Power World
•  SKM PowerTools
•  EasyPower
•  MATLAB / Simulink
•  Other software