Smart Grid

Smart Grid

What is a smart grid?

Today's grid is composed of central generating stations and electromechanical power delivery systems operated from control centers. Nineteenth century electrical pioneers Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse would find most of it familiar. But now the system is transforming itself into a smart grid that integrates a multitude of distributed energy resources, uses solid state electronics to manage and deliver power, and employs automated control systems. The power industry, trailing behind economic sectors from retailing to manufacturing already revolutionized by computerization, over coming decades will see cheap computing power and low-cost bandwidth infuse every element of the grid, from generation and power delivery to end uses, with digital intelligence.

Functions of Smart Grid

Standards development organizations (SDOs) operate under similar rules worldwide. In general terms, the members of the committees doing the actual development work are limited by anti-trust rules or laws from engaging in anti-competitive behavior such as market division, pricing discussions and the like. Also, intellectual property is treated as a potential source for standards language, and requires disclosure by the holder. For balloting, strict control of the candidate voters with respect to balanced interest is performed to provide a measure of fairness and balance. As an example, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has three categories, producer, user and general interest, and for balloting groups no single category can exceed forty (40) percent of eligible voters.

Standards usually begin as de facto standards; i.e., enough commonality among enough producers to call the product/approach/protocol “standard.” Beyond this, SDOs actually author de jure standards; i.e., those that are codified in a manner similar to laws. Given the careful attention to balloting balance, open rules and open participation, standards may be adopted in place of laws in certain jurisdictions.

Distributed generation interconnection - At least 60,000 megawatts (MW) of small-scale distributed generators, defined as under 10 MW, are on line in North America. Most are diesel and reciprocating engines, but solar panels, small wind turbines, microturbines and fuel cells are emerging. Most distributed generation is used as back-up power and is unconnected to the grid. But communications and control systems that link and operate generator networks in coordination with the grid are beginning to appear. This eliminates the need for costly peaking infrastructure and insures against blackouts. Electronic intelligence also connects solar panels and wind turbines to the grid, which makes possible net metering arrangements that ship surplus renewable generation to the grid and credit owners. These interconnection technologies are a precursor to the “Energy Web,” a shift to a power grid with a multitude of localized power units. Integrating these new and emerging clean energy technologies will require a more complex and automated control system than today's grid based on a relatively small number of central generating stations. The Energy Web will offer at least three benefits: high reliability, reduced losses from power lines and improved ability to utilize waste heat from power generation.

Energy storage - While electricity has been mostly a just-in-time delivery system, the smart ...