SMART GRIDS

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Smart grids: what is a smart electrical grid – electricity networks in evolution

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. Smart grids – as a concept – became known over a decade ago. An introduction with definitions, trends and essential characteristics of smart grids.

Big data and advanced analytics are essential technology drivers in smart grids whereby analytics shift to the edge, as in edge computing. Smart grids leverage more technologies but aren’t just about IT nor even technologies.

A 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 have self-healing capabilities and enable electricity customers to become active participants.

A smart grid serves several purposes and the movement from traditional electric grids to smart grids is driven by multiple factors, including 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. electrical vehicle charging points).

An 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.

In practice it is a highly interconnected network with several components such as substations, transmission lines and wiring, distribution lines, transformers and more.

Available at https://www.i-scoop.eu/industry-4-0/smart-grids-electrical-grid/. Acceso el 1 de octubre, 2020