Smart grid

About: Smart grid is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 37536 publications have been published within this topic receiving 627844 citations. The topic is also known as: intelligent grid.

Power Line Communications and the Smart Grid

Abstract: The design of the Smart Grid requires solving a complex problem of combined sensing, communications and control and, thus, the problem of choosing a networking technology cannot be addressed without also taking into consideration requirements related to sensor networking and distributed control. These requirements are today still somewhat undefined so that it is not possible yet to give quantitative guidelines on how to choose one communication technology over the other. In this paper, we make a first qualitative attempt to better understand the role that Power Line Communications (PLCs) can have in the Smart Grid. Furthermore, we here report recent results on the electrical and topological properties of the power distribution network. The topological characterization of the power grid is not only important because it allows us to model the grid as an information source, but also because the grid becomes the actual physical information delivery infrastructure when PLCs are used.

Digital Grid: Communicative Electrical Grids of the Future

Abstract: To support a high penetration of intermittent solar and wind power generation, many regions are planning to add new high capacity transmission lines. These additional transmission lines strengthen grid synchronization, but will also increase the grid's short circuit capacity, and furthermore will be very costly. With a highly interconnected grid and variable renewable generation, a small grid failure can easily start cascading outages, resulting in large scale blackout. We introduce the “digital grid,” where large synchronous grids are divided into smaller segmented grids which are connected asynchronously, via multileg IP addressed ac/dc/ac converters called digital grid routers. These routers communicate with each other and send power among the segmented grids through existing transmission lines, which have been repurposed as digital grid transmission lines. The digital grid can accept high penetrations of renewable power, prevent cascading outages, accommodate identifiable tagged electricity flows, record those transactions, and trade electricity as a commodity.

Optimum Microgrid Design for Enhancing Reliability and Supply-Security

Abstract: Microgrids are known as clusters of distributed energy resources serving a group of distributed loads in grid-connected and isolated grid modes. Nowadays, the concept of microgrids has become a key subject in the smart grid area, demanding a systematic procedure for their optimal construction. According to the IEEE Std 1547.4, large distribution systems can be clustered into a number of microgrids to facilitate powerful control and operation infrastructure in future distribution systems. However, clustering large systems into a set of microgrids with high reliability and security is not reported in current literature. To fill-out this gap, this paper presents a systematic and optimized approach for designing microgrids taking into account system reliability- and supply-security-related aspects. The optimum design considers sustained and temporary faults, for system reliability via a combined probabilistic reliability index, and real and reactive power balance, for supply security. The loads are assumed to be variable and different distributed generation (DG) technologies are considered. Conceptual design, problem formulation and solution algorithms are presented in this paper. The well-known PG&E 69-bus distribution system is selected as the test system. The effect of optimization coefficients on the design and the robustness of the algorithm are investigated using sensitivity studies.

Using AMI to realize the Smart Grid

Abstract: As environmental concerns and energy consumption continue to increase, utilities are looking at cost effective strategies for improved network operation and consumer consumption. Smart grid is a collection of next generation power delivery concepts that includes new power delivery components, control and monitoring throughout the power grid and more informed customer options. This session will cover utilization of AMI networks to realize some of the smart grid goals.

Getting Smart

Abstract: We live in a very critical and exciting time in the evolution of the electric power industry. Society in general and the power industry in particular are faced with the challenges and opportunities of transforming the power grid ushered in by Nicola Tesla some 120 years ago into a smart grid. A smart grid will help the world manage demand growth, conserve energy, maximize asset utilization, improve grid security and reliability, and reduce its carbon footprint. Smart grid technology is not a single silver bullet but a collection of existing and emerging standards-based, interoperable technologies working together. Controllable technologies for supply, demand, power flow, and storage provide the means to implement decisions made by smart control algorithms and thus create value. ABB already provides its customers with many of the smart grid technologies described here and continues to research and develop power control technologies as well as smart grid applications.