6 th Seminar Series Competition- Trends and Challenges in Smart Grid Technology
Supported by : IEEE Power and Energy Society Kerala Section
District Level : Before 27 th Feb 2015
State Level : First Week of March 2015
Trends and Challenges in Smart Grid Technology
Electricity is the most versatile and widely used form of energy and global demand is growing continuously. The electrical power system was built up over more than a century. It is now one of the most effective components of the infrastructure on which modern society depends. It delivers electrical energy to industry, commercial and residential consumers. To satisfy both the increasing demand for power and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, we need an electric system that can handle these challenges in a sustainable, reliable and economic way. Today, existing grids are under pressure to deliver the growing demand for power, as well as provide a stable and sustainable supply of electricity. These complex challenges are driving the evolution of Smart Grid technologies.
Smart Grid is a modernized and evolved electrical grid that uses analogue or digital information and communications technology to gather and act on information, such as information about the behaviors of suppliers and consumers, in an automated fashion to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics, and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity.
The Smart Grid represents an unprecedented opportunity to move the energy industry into a new era and will contribute to our economic and environmental health. The benefits associated with the Smart Grid include:
Smart grids will make use of new design concepts and advanced materials in system components like transformers and circuit breakers to improve efficiency, safety and operational performance. Widespread use of power electronic devices will help maximize performance of existing assets and make the grid more resilient in the event of disruptions. In general, smart grid technology can be grouped into five key areas; Integrated communications, Sensing and measurement which includes Smart meters and Phasor measurement units, Advanced components like Distributed power flow control and Smart power generation using advanced components, Advanced control and Improved interfaces and decision support. Implementation of smart grids will lead to reliable operation and effective performance of distributed generations based on renewable energy resources, as well as enabling better use of existing power stations and improving the efficiency of industries. Moreover, this technology causes better operation of power grids and addresses the power quality issues through using advanced controllers, power electronic equipments and economical and managerial decisions making
Electrical systems will undergo a major evolution, improving reliability and reducing electrical losses, capital expenditures and maintenance costs. The smart grid is the future for electrical systems, as it is designed to meet the four major electricity requirements of our global society: capacity, reliability, efficiency and sustainability.
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