Increased use of converter interfaced Distributed Energy Resources offers new opportunities and challenges in the power system networks. Microgrids integrating Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are being increasingly deployed not only to provide clean energy access to remote communities and strategic/building complexes, but also to increase resiliency and reliability of supply, provide flexibility and back up power to the main network while helping in addressing the global environmental concerns. Operation of Smart Distribution Systems integrating microgrids, renewable sources and storage require proper control and protection systems to be designed. Advance Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) are required to ensure optimal power sharing, storage management, maintaining required power quality and stability of supply. The main focus of an ongoing Indo-US joint project ‘UI-ASSIST’, involving 31 consortia partners from US and India, is to evolve model for future smart distribution networks integrating RES, ESS and microgrids. Both India and US teams are also setting up field demonstration pilots, five in each country, containing microgrids under rural, semi-urban and urban settings. This talk will briefly discuss the technical details and challenges faced in developing Smart Distribution Systems and will share experiences in setting up rural, urban and semi-urban pilots in India by the UI-ASSIST team. Co-sponsored by: IEEE PES, IEEE IAS, IEEE PELS, IES society Speaker(s): Suresh Chandra Srivastava Room: D-5018, Bldg: École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame St W, Pavillon D – ÉTS, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3C 1K3