(1. National Electric Power Dispatching and Control Center, State Grid Corporation of China, Beijing 100031, China; 2. State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company, Chengdu 610041, China; 3. China Electric Power Research Institute, Beijing 100192, China; 4. NARI Group Corporation (State Grid Electric Power Research Institute), Nanjing 211106, China; 5. NARI Group Corporation (State Grid Electric Power Research Institute) (Beijing), Beijing 100192, China)

Firstly, the development history of power grid dispatching automation systems in China is reviewed. The architecture of smart grid dispatching and control systems is described. Then the main technical breakthroughs of smart grid dispatching and control systems are summarized, including improvement of the observability and controllability of ultra large power grids, the coordinated ability of control centers, the early warning ability of on-line dynamic security of ultra large power grids, the economic operation efficiency of ultra large power grids, the ability for power grids to accommodate new energy generation, and the ability of the control centers of power grids to withstand major natural calamities and group cyber-attacks. Finally, further research areas of smart grid dispatching and control systems are outlined.