178 Int. J. Innovation and Learning, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2009 The design and development of a virtual laboratory for power system modelling and load flow analysis to promote innovative learning M.K.S. Sastry* Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of West Indies West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago E-mail: mks_sastry@ieee.org *Corresponding author Riaz Ali Industrial Plant Services Limited Caspian Drive, Point Lisas Industrial Estate West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago E-mail: riazali_26@hotmail.com Abstract: Web-enabled applications in electrical engineering education are gaining prominence. The modelling and analysis of electrical power systems involve complex matrix manipulations and iterative techniques. Quite often, students complain about the complexity of power system courses. This paper presents the design and development of a typical virtual environment for power system modelling and load flow analysis. With its innovative design and self-configurable features, this system provides greater flexibility for teachers to create challenging problems with different combinations. The details of the application environment and implementation are illustrated and its impact on the learning process is outlined. Keywords: web-enabled applications; online learning tools; power systems; load flow analysis. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sastry, M.K.S. and Ali, R. (2009) ‘The design and development of a virtual laboratory for power system modelling and load flow analysis to promote innovative learning’, Int. J. Innovation and Learning, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp.178–191. Biographical notes: M.K.S. Sastry received his Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, India, in 2002. He is currently a Lecturer at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. His research interests include computer applications in power engineering, information systems, asset and facility management and engineering education. He is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK, and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), USA. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.