The development of smart grid has posed a challenge to the traditional centralized dispatch mode. The basic contradiction between distributed autonomy and centralized coordination is reexamined

and an architecture of smart substation advanced application software system is proposed

including such advanced applications as modeling

state estimation

intelligent alarming

voltage stability assessment and control

automatic voltage control

risk assessment modeling

etc. This facilitates a change from centralized dispatch and control mode to a more reliable

agile substation-control center two-level distributed smart dispatch and control mode. The features

functions and realization of the proposed advanced application software are described

some field engineering application cases demonstrated

and certain practical aspects of implementation discussed. Finally

the prospect for future development of the smart substation advanced application software is displayed.