In smart grids, self-healing capabilities enable to automatically detect and respond to grid problems and to ensure quick recovery after disturbances. The purpose of an electrical grid is to make sure that electricity is always provided when and where needed, without interruption – and herein lie many challenges where a smart grid can already offer solutions/answers. Typically, a distinction is made between transmission (transmission grid: high and extra high voltage) and distribution (distribution grid: lower voltage), where different wiring and cabling systems come in the picture. In an electricity network voltage is gradually lowered so the electricity can be used by these different consumers: from transmission voltage levels to distribution voltage levels to service voltage levels (in reality it’s both gearing up and down and thus a bit more complex). Traditional electricity grids had almost no storage capabilities, they are demand-driven and have a hierarchical structure. The smart grid compared to traditional electricity grids – the essence and differences In many countries the challenges of grid players are mainly seen in the decentralization of the production of energy and the transport of it.įor IoT companies such as AllThingsTalk the challenge that energy and grid players ask them to help resolve is the connection of a multitude of meters and normalization of resulting data, enabling to roll out faster and in an automated way as founder Tom Casaer explains in an interview. already took such smart metering initiatives a decade ago there are still several where this is only really starting. However, although many countries, regions, states etc. They prefer to speak about power grid modernization, for example, as that is what it’s really about with far more elements than smart metering, sending data in two directions and adding power to the grid in the opposite direction. They see that term as referring to a first stage where advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) initiatives were deployed with first-generation smart meters. Smart grid and grid modernization – what’s in a name?ĭo note that some people in the industry don’t talk about smart grid anymore. Grid ecosystem players have various challenges in the decentralization of energy production and transport. In practice it is a highly interconnected network with several components such as substations, transmission lines and wiring, distribution lines, transformers and more. electrical vehicle charging points).Īn electrical grid or electric grid is a network to deliver electricity from the producer(s) and places where it’s generated and transformed (power plants and substations) to the final destinations where electricity is ‘consumed’: households, businesses, various facilities and the consumer in general. These include the deregulation of the energy market, evolutions in metering, changes on the level of electricity production, decentralization (distributed energy), the advent of the involved ‘prosumer’, changing regulations, the rise of microgeneration and (isolated) microgrids, renewable energy mandates with more energy sources and new points where and purposes for which electricity is needed (e.g. Smart grids leverage more technologies but aren’t just about IT nor even technologies.Ī smart grid serves several purposes and the movement from traditional electric grids to smart grids is driven by multiple factors. Smart grids have self-healing capabilities and enable electricity customers to become active participants.īig data analytics and IoT technologies are important technology drivers in smart grids whereby analytics shift to the edge, as in edge computing. An introduction with definitions, trends and essential characteristics of smart grids.Ī smart grid is an electricity network enabling a two-way flow of electricity and data with digital communications technology enabling to detect, react and pro-act to changes in usage and multiple issues. Smart grids – as a concept – became known over a decade ago and are essential in the digital transformation of the electricity sector. A smart grid is an electricity network/grid enabling a two-way flow of electricity and data whereby smart metering is often seen as a first step.
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