About the Competition
We invite students and researchers to participate in the Synchrophasor Anomaly Detection competition at the 5th International Conference on Smart Grid Synchronized Measurements and Analytics (SGSMA 2026) which is planned to be held on June 1-4, 2026. This competition challenges participants to develop innovative algorithms that use synchrophasor data to accurately and rapidly detect and localize anomalies and events in electrical power networks. The competition provides a unique platform for showcasing expertise in data analytics, machine learning, algorithm development, and real-time power system monitoring.
Eligibility
Participation is open to students/research teams from accredited engineering programs at colleges or universities, scientists at research laboratories, or electric industry worldwide.
Objective
The primary goal of this competition is to advance the tools and techniques for anomaly/event detection and localization in smart grids using synchrophasor measurements. Participants will utilize the provided training data to develop robust models capable of accurately identifying and localizing anomalies or events in real-time synchrophasor data streams.
Competition Process
Applicants will receive both training and network data to build and fine-tune their models. The competition will take place in two stages:
Offline Hackathon (Feb. 15, 2026 to April 15, 2026)
- The applicants will participate in an off-line hackathon to build and refine their models using the provided training dataset.
- Competition Guideline and Dataset are available here.
- Teams will need to submit their codes based on the training data and a short technical report describing their solution.
- The top 3 teams will be selected as finalists based on performance.
On-Site Live Evaluation (June 1, 2026 — Santiago, Chile)
- Representatives from the top 3 finalists will be invited and travel supported to attend the SGSMA 2026 conference.
- During a pre-conference workshop, finalists will be given a new test dataset and will run their submitted code live. The effectiveness of the solutions will be evaluated based on the accuracy of detection and localization, as well as the speed and efficiency of the algorithms using metrics like recall and precision.
Timeline
February 15 – April 15, 2026
Competition Period (Offline Hackathon)
April 25, 2026
Announcement of the Top 3 Finalists
June 1, 2026
On-Site Live Evaluation (Santiago, Chile)
Recognition and Awards
- Presentation and recognition during a pre-conference workshop panel
- Certificates for all three finalist teams
- Registration and travel support for 3 competition finalists
- Monetary prizes:
- 1st Place: $750
- 2nd Place: $500
- 3rd Place: $250
OPEN DATASET & GUIDELINES