What is a “Smart Grid”?
A “Smart Grid” generally refers to the use of intelligent electronic devices and communications between the devices that transport and deliver electricity for feedback to achieve a self-healing, performance-optimized electric grid. Smart Grid technology is interactive with both grid operators and consumers.
Smart grid is a vision of the electric power infrastructure that uses technological advancements to improve efficiency. Different stakeholders each have their own vision: • electric utilities want to efficiently provide reliable power • customers want economical, reliable power • the general public wants reduced environmental impact • governments and regulatory agencies want reliable, efficient, and secure delivery of power Many variables will determine how a smart grid is implemented and what technologies are used, and it will evolve as approaches are conceived and tested. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory, has defined seven principal characteristics for a modern grid: • self-heals • motivates and includes the consumer • resists attack • provides power quality for 21st-century needs • accommodates all generation and storage options • enables markets • optimizes assets and operates efficiently • Why is a smart grid necessa
