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Advanced Distribution System Analysis and Operation

By Prof .Narayana Prasad Padhy, Prof. Subho Paul   |   IIT Roorkee, IIT (BHU) Varanasi
Learners enrolled: 716   |  Exam registration: 6
ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of modern distribution networks, covering key areas such as the fundamentals of network design, integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), load flow analysis, and optimal power flow (OPF). It delves into enhancing reliability and resiliency and examines the coordination between transmission and distribution systems. Advanced topics include the use of AI for intelligent control, fault analysis, and protection in DER-integrated systems, as well as automation for network restoration. Additionally, the course highlights the critical role of cyber-physical systems in ensuring grid security and monitoring. Further, mathematical formulations to solve such challenges are described and validated with real-time data and software demonstrations. The practical implications and applications of these modules include optimizing energy efficiency, integrating renewable energy sources, enhancing grid reliability and resilience, improving fault detection and response, and securing modern digitalized power systems, all of which are essential for adapting to the evolving needs of power distribution in Metro, Urban/Semi-Urban, and rural locations of India.

INTENDED AUDIENCE:  UG 4th year students, PG, and PhD research scholars, industry personnel, power system operators, distribution network operators, faculty members from private and government academic institutes etc.

PREREQUISITES:  
 Course 1: Distribution Network Analysis
 Course 2: Power System Operation and Control
 Course 3: Smart Grid Technologies
 Course 4: Computer-Aided Power System Analysis
 Course 5: Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: State Power Distribution companies, DISCOMs Private sector: ABB, Schneider, Siemens, Tata Power, GE, BSES Rajdhani, Adani Electricity, Reliance Power, CESC etc. and all private sectors dealing with renewable energy and distribution networks
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
  • Power Systems and Power Electronics
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 21 Jul 2025
End Date : 10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends : 28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends : 15 Aug 2025
Exam Date : 01 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


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Course layout

Week 1: 
1. Introduction to power distribution networks 
2. Difference between power transmission and distribution networks
3. The architecture of distribution networks
4. Impacts of DERs on distribution grids & its hosting capacity assessment
5. Operational challenges associated with DER integrated distribution networks

Week 2: 
1. Distribution network circuit elements and their functionalities
2. Modeling and operation of DERs
3. Load and volt-VAR controlling device models
4. Bus injection model of distribution networks
5. Branch flow model of distribution networks

Week 3: 
1. Modeling of unbalancing effects in distribution networks
2. Model relaxation techniques
3. Simplified linear model of distribution grid
4. Introduction to distribution network load flow
5. Sparsity quantification of radial, weakly meshed, and ring distribution networks

Week 4 : 
1. Graphical load flow analysis of DER integrated distribution networks
2. Load flow analysis with different load models
3. Three-phase power flow with unbalanced DER penetration
4. Example of load flow solution in OpenDSS platform
5. Introduction to OPF analysis & Different OPF control approaches

Week 5 :
1. Mathematical formulation of Three-phase OPF formulation and computational challenges
2. Convex relaxation and exactness analysis
3. Centralized and distributed algorithms for OPF solution
4. Multi-period OPF and solution methods
5. Overview of commercial OPF solvers
Week 6 : 
1. Uncertainty quantification and overview of probabilistic OPF
2. Introduction to reliability analysis
3. Probabilistic failure analysis of network components
4. Reliability metrics
5. Value of loss load calculation

Week 7 : 
1. System reliability enhancement technologies
2. Concept of distribution system operator (DSO)
3. Bidding mechanism for DSOs
4. Ancillary support from distribution grids to transmission networks
5. T&D market mechanism

Week 8 : 
1. Transmission-distribution co-simulation framework
2. Case study demonstration on T&D interaction
3. Introduction to AI and its scope in distribution network control
4. Physics informed neural network for OPF problem
5. Markov decision process for smart inverter coordination and control

Week 9: 
1. Deep reinforcement learning for demand response 
2. Impact of DER integration on fault currents
3. Fault detection and classification: classical and AI-based methods
4. Relay coordination algorithms
5. Outage management system
Week 10: 
1. Fault ride through operation of DERs
2. Introduction to resiliency & Causes of distribution system failure
3. Impact of extreme weather events on distribution grids
4. Fragility analysis of distribution network circuit elements
5. Predictive and corrective measures to enhance system resiliency with Grid hardening methods 
Week 11: 
1. Overview of advanced distribution management systems (ADMS)
2. Smart Meters and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
3. Time-synchronized data measurement and PMU operation
4. Distribution network reconfiguration
5. Model-based network restoration 

Week 12: 
1. Communication requirements in distribution network operation
2. Communication network architecture and mediums
3. Communication non-idealities and their models
4. Cyber threats and their impact analysis
5. Cyber-physical co-simulation framework and case studies

Books and references

1. W. H. Kresting, “Distribution system modeling and analysis”, CRC Press

2. Electrical Distribution System Protection, 3rd Edition, Cooper Power Systems, 1990

3. M. Vadari, Electric System Operations, Evolving to modern grid, Amazon Digital Services LLC, 2012

4. Recent research articles related to distribution network analysis and operation

5. Anurag K. Srivastava, Chen-Ching Liu, Sayonsom Chanda, “Resiliency of Power Distribution Systems: Concepts, Implementation and Management,” Wiley, 2023

Instructor bio

Prof .Narayana Prasad Padhy

IIT Roorkee
Dr. Narayana Prasad Padhy, Chairperson (I/C), Board of Governors MNIT Jaipur, Director, MNIT Jaipur and Director, IIIT Kota, Chair Professor IIT Palakkad Technology IHub Foundation (IPTIF), is a Professor (HAG) of Electrical Engineering and has served as Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT Roorkee, Founder Head Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Professor In-Charge Training and Placement, NEEPCO, and Institute Chair Professor at IIT Roorkee.

He received his graduation degree in Electrical Engineering in 1990, Masters (Power Systems Engineering) with Distinction in 1993, and Ph.D. (College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai) in 1997. He worked as an Assistant Professor at BITS Pilani, India, for a year, after which he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Roorkee, as a Lecturer in 1998. He was promoted to the position of full Professor in 2008. Dr. Padhy researches in the area of Power Systems Engineering and Smart Grid. He has successfully supervised 23 research scholars and is currently guiding 21 research scholars. He has authored over 300 high quality papers with over 65 IEEE Transactions, with an overall citation of 10000 plus (h-index=50, i-index 143). He has also authored six textbooks and three successfully granted patents. His popular NPTEL online course on "Introduction to Smart Grid" has over 50,000 views. His new NPTEL course on "Smart Grid: Basics to Advanced Technologies", focuses on the practical research challenges of smart grid and provides laboratory demonstration. Two of his new NPTEL courses on "Power System Operation and Control" and "NPTEL course on Electrical Distribution System Analysis" start from July 2024.

He is a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineers (FNAE), The Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK (FIET), Institution of Engineers, India (FIE), Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, India (FIETE), The International Society for Energy Environment and Sustainability (ISEES), Chair Sectional Committee – V (Electrical Engineering) – INAE -India. As Senior Member of IEEE and Power and Energy Society, IEEE USA, he has actively contributed to various IEEE professional activities as Chair, PES Network Charging Working Group and Chair, IEEE Roorkee Subsection, Chair, IEEE UP Section, Member, IEEE PES Intelligent Systems Subcommittee. He also served as Vice-Chair, CIGRE National Study Committee on C4: Power System Technical Performance. He is actively involved in the Mission Innovation (MI) 2.0 - Green Powered Future Mission, engaging with about two dozen countries on the international platform.
Dr. Padhy has served as a Visiting Professor/Fellow at Canadian and UK universities. His research engagements supported institutional tie-ups with eminent US universities (MIT, Texas A&M, and WSU), UK universities (Bath, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Durham), DTU Denmark, and industry partners like TERI, BSES Delhi, Tata Power and ABB. He successfully established the AC-DC Hybrid Microgrid (ADMIRE) Lab at IIT Roorkee and dreams of deploying India's first Smart Academic Campus (SAC). He has successfully executed 13 international/national research projects and is currently leading 6 international research projects, with a funding of over INR 200 million. He serves as a knowledge partner/consultant to various Smart City projects of the central government and state governments. Dr. Padhy has been conferred various national and international awards and honours. These include Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Research Fellowship from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany (2009), Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award (2021), IEEE IAS GlobConHT 2023 Global Lifetime Achievement Award, IEEE Smart City Jury Award 2022, IEEE PES Chapter Outstanding Engineer Award from IEEE Power & Energy Society, USA (2018), Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee felicitation for bringing laurels to the Institute in 2017, and BOYSCAST Research Fellow Award for Young Scientist elected from Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (2005). His services to the Smart City and Smart Grid Technology development have been recognised by several honorary awards. He has successfully supervised six PhD thesis for being awarded the Grid India Power System Awards (GIPSA), formerly known as POSOCO award.


Prof. Subho Paul

IIT (BHU) Varanasi
Dr. Subho Paul received the M.E. and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with Power systems specialization from Jadavpur University, Kolkata and Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee in 2016 and 2021, respectively. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering in Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi. Prior to that he served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Indo-US UI-ASSIST project at IIT Roorkee from Oct. 2021 to Sept. 2022 and at Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA from Oct. 2022 to Dec. 2023. He has published more than 40 research papers in peer reviewed journals, international conference proceedings and book chapters. His research interests include power system optimization, distribution network optimal power flow, microgrid energy management, power system resiliency, and application of artificial intelligence techniques in power system. Dr. Paul is a Member of IEEE, USA and Institute of Engineers (IE), India. He was the recipient of the University Gold Medal for standing first in order of merit in the M.E. degree from Jadavpur University in 2016. He is also awarded with the Grid India Power System Award 2024 (GIPSA-2024) under the doctoral category of outstanding work by the Grid Controller of India Limited. He also received Best Paper Awards at various international IEEE conferences for his research contributions.


Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: November 01, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Roorkee. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team


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