The
electrical grid is a marvel of modern engineering that underpins
nearly every aspect of society –– a complex interconnection that
spans the tiniest LED lightbulb and the largest power plants.
But as
electricity use grows, which it does exponentially, the grid
strains. The use of renewable energy sources and new regulations
can add to the complexity and strain.
Without
the implementation of new technologies and models, we’ll be
stuck with an unreliable power system where technical, as well
as non-technical parameters, will be neglected. It can lead to
significant chaos, harming the interests of various
stakeholders. That type of neglect could make commonplace
incidents like a 2012 blackout in India that left 230 million
without power.
Smart
grids are, undoubtedly, the definitive solution for managing
electricity distribution in a world dependent on renewable
energy.
But what
makes them smarter? And why do we need them?
At a
core level, the challenges of the grid come down to a simple
fact. It needs to produce exactly as much electricity as is
demanded. If demand exceeds supply, brown- or black-outs are
possible. When supply exceeds demand, power plants may be forced
offline to help stabilize frequency and voltage.
Demand
fluctuates all the time, from day to night, and from hour to
hour. Those demand shifts can be largely predicted based on
historical data. Power plants may go on and offline in response
to demand. But renewable energy sources change the calculus.
They produce power based on factors like weather, which may not
match demand.
That’s
where smart grids come in. As the smart grid is a two-way
system, it will act as a safeguard, automatically rerouting
power in case of equipment failure and power outages. They
integrate information technologies with renewable energy
sources, creating a two-way conversation between suppliers and
consumers. This conversation is enabled with smart metering
devices, which accurately monitor power consumption at a
granular level.
Smart
grids enable the efficient transmission of electricity, better
restoration of electricity after fluctuations, lower peak demand
and power costs for consumers, provide better integration of
renewable energy systems with the power grid, improved security
and much more.
Smart Architecture for a
Complex World
Smart
metering offers substantial benefits like reduced commercial
losses, effective monitoring of energy (real-time or near
real-time), energy theft detection, enhancements in grid
reliability and better revenue management. Furthermore, it
enables customers to keep track of their energy consumption,
allowing them to adjust their usage as required.
Presently, researchers are more focused on the deployment of
more complicated information, communication technologies and
control in a multi-layered architecture. The two-way
communication between a smart meter and the grid may allow an
automated building, for example, to detect when consumption is
high. It could, for example, turn off power to uninhabited parts
of the building in response, or adjust heating and cooling
settings in response.
But that
two-way communication adds another layer of complexity, because
demand may shift again because of reactions from smart meters,
just as the grid brings more power sources online.
Power
generated by renewable sources and corresponding action taken by
business layers is not predictable. So it’s imperative that the
latest controls are leveraged in the service of smart grids. As
the smart grid evolves, it will undoubtedly transform grid
operations in the same way the internet did.
The
smart grid shows an unmatched scope to move the electrical
energy industry into a new milestone of reliability and
efficiency that will enhance our environment’s health.
Undeniably, this transition period is crucial. The adoption of
sophisticated testing and control technologies, raising consumer
awareness and implementing regulations and standards for the
same would require robust engineering and management protocols.
By Inderpreet Kaur - IEEE
