Monitoring and control applications in modern power systems rely on a distributed infrastructure that needs to be accurately synchronized. However, traditional time/frequency dissemination techniques may prove to be insufficient to attain the desired level of accuracy and resilience. In this context, the present paper discusses the benefits enabled by adopting the White Rabbit (WR) protocol, which guarantees excellent time synchronization through the accurate estimation and correction of the time-delays between each node. Different hardware architectures have been proposed, implemented and compared, and experimental results highlight the remarkable timebase stability and accuracy achievable through WR. The standard deviation of the offset from the time reference is about 10 nanoseconds, which may be further improved through higher performance hardware. Finally, starting from these results, this paper shows that WR technology, supported by Field Programmable Gate Array-based instruments, can complement Global Navigation Satellite System and Precision Time Protocol Power Utility Profile in future power system applications, including high-performance merging units, harmonic synchrophasor estimation, and traveling wave-based fault location.
The Role of White Rabbit Protocol for the Next-Generation Power System Applications
Castello, Paolo;Gallus, Giacomo;Pegoraro, Paolo Attilio;Sitzia, Davide;
2026-01-01
Abstract
Monitoring and control applications in modern power systems rely on a distributed infrastructure that needs to be accurately synchronized. However, traditional time/frequency dissemination techniques may prove to be insufficient to attain the desired level of accuracy and resilience. In this context, the present paper discusses the benefits enabled by adopting the White Rabbit (WR) protocol, which guarantees excellent time synchronization through the accurate estimation and correction of the time-delays between each node. Different hardware architectures have been proposed, implemented and compared, and experimental results highlight the remarkable timebase stability and accuracy achievable through WR. The standard deviation of the offset from the time reference is about 10 nanoseconds, which may be further improved through higher performance hardware. Finally, starting from these results, this paper shows that WR technology, supported by Field Programmable Gate Array-based instruments, can complement Global Navigation Satellite System and Precision Time Protocol Power Utility Profile in future power system applications, including high-performance merging units, harmonic synchrophasor estimation, and traveling wave-based fault location.
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