what is a smart grid?
The term “Smart Grid” has different meanings to different people! So what is it?
- Smart metering
- Better electricity networks
- Ubiquitous communications and control
- New technology and its integration with the old
- Commercial ingenuity across the value chain
It’s all of these… and more!
The Electricity Networks Strategy Group has defined smart grids as possessing the following properties:
- Facilitate connection and operation of generators of all sizes and technologies
- Enable the demand side to play a part in optimising the operation of the system
- Extend system balancing into distribution and the home
- Provide consumers with greater information and choice of supply
- Significantly reduce the environmental impact of the total electricity supply system
- Deliver required levels of reliability, flexibility, quality and security of supply
Alternatively, the
SmartGrids Technology Platform defines smart grids as ‘electricity networks that can intelligently integrate the behaviour and actions of all users connected to it - generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies’.
The Smart Grid enables a self-healing, more reliable, less constrained, safer and more efficient grid. Intelligent meters, products and displays also empower customers to use electricity more efficiently.
(ref. http://www.kema.com/services/consulting/utility-future/smart-grid/default.aspx)
For more information on the definition of a smart grid, the benefits of smart grids and their role in climate change visit
SmartGrids Technology Platform.
Smarter Grids: The Opportunity
from the Department of Energy & Climate Change is a guide to the subject, setting out the challenges and opportunities for smart grid's in the UK and plans for future delivery. This document includes
- information on the current electricity grid
- the ‘smart home’
- future changes to electricity supply and demand
- the opportunities offered by a smarter grid
- meeting the challenges of delivering a smarter grid
- next steps