ECE6886 Smart grids
Faculty of Engineering
ECE6886 Smart grids is a level 6, 0-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 0
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 60%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ECE6886
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ECE6886
No unit lists ECE6886 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must be enrolled in the Engineering PHD program or with permission from the Faculty of Engineering. The unit assumes that you have the necessary foundational knowledge.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
The Smart Grid unit provides a comprehensive knowledge about the Smart Grid and how it is to be operated and protected for improving sustainability and energy savings. The core of the unit is intelligent infrastructure for Smart Grid and its heightening vulnerability, and how to protect it effectively.
The basic economic fundamentals of power systems and conventional and renewable power generation in regulated and deregulated environment are introduced first. The basic concepts of intelligent control, application of intelligent agents in grid technology, and intelligent components commonly used in Smart Grids are extensively discussed afterward. Also included is how distribution networks adapt to intermittent energy sources (e.g. solar and wind) through the use of smart grids, emerging technologies and energy storage systems.
The unit will conclude with defining concept, design and purpose of the Smart Grid, reviewing current and relevant technologies developed, assessing its vulnerabilities to a cyber-attack, and finding effective protective mechanisms for the grid.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Flexible |
Assessment
- Mid-semester testQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle10%
- Simulation laboratoriesExerciseThreshold hurdle30%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle60%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe fundamentals of power systems and generation.
- 2
Design intelligent power systems using grid technology.
- 3
Analyse operational considerations of the Smart Grid.
- 4
Identify security risks to Smart Grids and protective measures to ensure system integrity and supply reliability.
- 5
Describe the required changes in power distribution networks and energy storage systems to accommodate intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Laboratories18 hours
- Assessments3 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachSimulation or virtual practice
- Teaching approachResearch activities
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
The lectures are used to address common learning objectives of all students and provide opportunities for class discussion with questions encouraged. The lecturer will often ask questions and you are expected to participate in an interactive experience. Learning in the unit is supplemented by a set of prescribed practical problems. While practical questions contain examinable material, they are to be solved as part of your self-study workload. The purpose of 1-hour practical classes scheduled during semester is to allow consultation time to resolve difficulties that you may have with solving practical class problems.
Laboratories are intended to provide you with real-world experience of designing, implementing and testing your ideas in a practical setting. Lab demonstrators will assist you in achieving this goal in the lab by providing advice but not solutions. You are expected to debug your own work and lab demonstrators can provide suggestions.
You will be asked to work on a subject related to one of the challenges in smart grids. You are expected to prepare a poster and present. You are also expected to write a detailed report related to your subject.
Learning resources
Technology resources
MATLAB, PowerFactory
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Reza Razzaghi
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Reza Razzaghi
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ECE6886?
ECE6886 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ECE6886 offered?
In 2026, ECE6886 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ECE6886?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ECE6886 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.