Smart Grid
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the portion of the smart grid where power flows to meet electricity demands.
Of course, there may also be consumer/ producers with solar panels that
generate excess electricity as part of the distribution system, and power may
flow into the grid from multiple locations because of this. Additionally, there
are already transmission system operators who are concerned with power
flow from one part of the country to another. The smart grid for a community is similarly connected to a larger grid that has someone who manages it
(Mwasilu et al., 2014).
In order to balance supply and demand, a smart grid should have the ability
to use prices as incentives to alter demand. If the utility has excess supply
and wishes to increase demand, they can lower the price and encourage,
for example, electric vehicle (EV) owners to charge their cars by informing
them of the lower price through communication on the smart grid information system. The utility may even have arrangements with EV owners who
have parked in a parking lot with a solar- powered charging infrastructure
that includes electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to charge EVs when
the price is sufficiently low. Excess supply may also be sold into the larger
grid. Since the smart grid likely includes storage batteries, the utility can
alternatively choose to store electricity in its storage batteries. The smart grid
includes software and computer programs that help guide this and other
decision making processes.
The smart grid must be able to distribute all the electric power that is
generated and supply the power that is needed at all times. At peak power
demand times, prices may be higher to discourage power use for charging
EVs, drying clothes, and other uses that can be scheduled at alternative
times when prices are lower. There are some places where utilities have
optional contracts with a subset of users that allow power delivery to be
briefly interrupted when demand is high. Stored energy in batteries can
be used to supply power to the grid at peak power demand times, maximizing the value of that resource. This later option may include power
flow from EV batteries into the grid, as explained later on. Many utilities
have generating equipment that is powered by natural gas that can be
started and used when even more power is needed. Finally, electric power
can be purchased from the larger grid if it is available.
The smart grid, properly implemented, can improve safety and reliability.
Through improved communication and incentives, it can achieve better
efficiency, flexibility, and compatibility. Integration of the various parts of
the grid is enhanced. The smart grid becomes increasingly important as
the portion of energy from renewable sources increases and grid management becomes more complex (Munje, 2017). With the smart grid, consumers
have more choices, and greater efficiency is possible because of prosumers
and consumers working with others to modify supply and demand to have
improved outcomes.
With smart meters and smart grids, it is possible to make use of computers,
machine learning, and the Internet of Things to gather and process information that gives us a better understanding of the needs and habits of
73
73
the portion of the smart grid where power flows to meet electricity demands.
Of course, there may also be consumer/ producers with solar panels that
generate excess electricity as part of the distribution system, and power may
flow into the grid from multiple locations because of this. Additionally, there
are already transmission system operators who are concerned with power
flow from one part of the country to another. The smart grid for a community is similarly connected to a larger grid that has someone who manages it
(Mwasilu et al., 2014).
In order to balance supply and demand, a smart grid should have the ability
to use prices as incentives to alter demand. If the utility has excess supply
and wishes to increase demand, they can lower the price and encourage,
for example, electric vehicle (EV) owners to charge their cars by informing
them of the lower price through communication on the smart grid information system. The utility may even have arrangements with EV owners who
have parked in a parking lot with a solar- powered charging infrastructure
that includes electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to charge EVs when
the price is sufficiently low. Excess supply may also be sold into the larger
grid. Since the smart grid likely includes storage batteries, the utility can
alternatively choose to store electricity in its storage batteries. The smart grid
includes software and computer programs that help guide this and other
decision making processes.
The smart grid must be able to distribute all the electric power that is
generated and supply the power that is needed at all times. At peak power
demand times, prices may be higher to discourage power use for charging
EVs, drying clothes, and other uses that can be scheduled at alternative
times when prices are lower. There are some places where utilities have
optional contracts with a subset of users that allow power delivery to be
briefly interrupted when demand is high. Stored energy in batteries can
be used to supply power to the grid at peak power demand times, maximizing the value of that resource. This later option may include power
flow from EV batteries into the grid, as explained later on. Many utilities
have generating equipment that is powered by natural gas that can be
started and used when even more power is needed. Finally, electric power
can be purchased from the larger grid if it is available.
The smart grid, properly implemented, can improve safety and reliability.
Through improved communication and incentives, it can achieve better
efficiency, flexibility, and compatibility. Integration of the various parts of
the grid is enhanced. The smart grid becomes increasingly important as
the portion of energy from renewable sources increases and grid management becomes more complex (Munje, 2017). With the smart grid, consumers
have more choices, and greater efficiency is possible because of prosumers
and consumers working with others to modify supply and demand to have
improved outcomes.
With smart meters and smart grids, it is possible to make use of computers,
machine learning, and the Internet of Things to gather and process information that gives us a better understanding of the needs and habits of