By Rajat Dwivedi, EEE 3rd Year
Smart Grid is the most advanced technology in power system engineering. A step ahead the concept of micro grids, smart grids are much promising for sustainability of power. Smart grid is usually a normal power grid with smart and intelligent maintenance. For a basic understanding, smart grid can be considered as the same electric value chain consisting of generation,transmission and distribution sections.This electric value chain although for a normal grid suffers breakdown from efficiency perspective. A grid due to losses during transmission becomes less efficient. Thus, with a view of sustainable development of power transmission, a more efficient technology is needed. Thus, the concept of micro grid is then introduced.
A microgrid is a cluster of distributed generations, energy storage,and loads within clearly defined electrical boundaries, which acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid, as defined by the Microgrid Exchange Group, an ad hoc group of experts and implementers of microgrid technology. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island mode.
The most compelling feature of a micro grid is the ability to separate and isolate itself from the utility’s distribution system during grid events, i.e., faults, voltage collapses, and black-outs. It may also intentionally disconnect during grid maintenance and also when the quality of power from the grid is deteriorated. A micro grid must enable reconnection to the utility grid without any interruption once grid power quality and stability are recovered.
However micro grid cannot alone be developed. It requires proper management and investment. Moreover, with cost requirements, arrangements for efficient working and maintenance of grid is needed.That is why a smart grid is needed. We can therefore consider a smart grid as:
SMART GRID = MICRO-GRID+SMART MANAGEMENT
Types of Micro-grids based on its area of use:
However micro grid cannot alone be developed. It requires proper management and investment. Moreover, with cost requirements, arrangements for efficient working and maintenance of grid is needed.That is why a smart grid is needed. We can therefore consider a smart grid as:
SMART GRID = MICRO-GRID+SMART MANAGEMENT
Types of Micro-grids based on its area of use:
- Institutional Microgrid
- Commercial Microgrid
- Military Microgrid
- Community Microgrid
- Remote-Off Microgrid
- Faster storm recovery
- Reduced utility costs
- Customer engagement
- Breakdown of utility silos
Smart grid, when considered as an extension of normal electric value chain, consists of mainly three layers:
Concept of Distribution Automation:Distribution automation (DA) represents the evolution of control technologies that has taken place as computing power becomes embedded in the individual products that make up the distribution system. DA allows individual devices to sense the operating conditions of the grid around them and make adjustments to improve the overall power flow and optimize performance. Without DA, grid operators in centralized control centers have the responsibility to identify and analyze their power system and intervene by either remotely activating devices or dispatching a service technician.
DA automation can be a critical component in outage prevention. One of the benefits highlighted in a number of reports is the “asset management” angle of DA. The sensors and communications associated with DA can provide early detection of the devices that might not be working properly, thus allowing the utility company to replace those devices before an outright failure occurs.
In terms of service restoration, intelligent electrical devices with DA capabilities will not only immediately identify that an outage has occurred, but will also pinpoint the specific devices that are experiencing the fault. Given this information, grid operators—in concert with their outage management system— can route around the problem and automatically restore power to the greatest number of customers and important constituencies such as first responders.
Utility Executive Concerns:
Which countries are adopting Smart Grid Technology and how?
DIMENSIONS OF SMARTGRID:
- Power Layer
- Communication Layer
- Smart Grid Application Layer
Concept of Distribution Automation:Distribution automation (DA) represents the evolution of control technologies that has taken place as computing power becomes embedded in the individual products that make up the distribution system. DA allows individual devices to sense the operating conditions of the grid around them and make adjustments to improve the overall power flow and optimize performance. Without DA, grid operators in centralized control centers have the responsibility to identify and analyze their power system and intervene by either remotely activating devices or dispatching a service technician.
DA automation can be a critical component in outage prevention. One of the benefits highlighted in a number of reports is the “asset management” angle of DA. The sensors and communications associated with DA can provide early detection of the devices that might not be working properly, thus allowing the utility company to replace those devices before an outright failure occurs.
In terms of service restoration, intelligent electrical devices with DA capabilities will not only immediately identify that an outage has occurred, but will also pinpoint the specific devices that are experiencing the fault. Given this information, grid operators—in concert with their outage management system— can route around the problem and automatically restore power to the greatest number of customers and important constituencies such as first responders.
Utility Executive Concerns:
- Cost recovery of Smart Grid investments
- Regulatory and environmental compliance
- Impact of distributed energy, storage, and electric vehicles on utility operations
Which countries are adopting Smart Grid Technology and how?
- United States is adopting Smart Grids through government funding. US has much progressed in Smart Grid technology by adapting distribution automation and micro-grid development.
- European Countries have just started to involve in Smart Grid developments.
- China and India are focusing on enhancement of infrastructure to meet the demands of conventional power grids and implement newly introduced micro grid technology.
DIMENSIONS OF SMARTGRID:
- Distributed Energy
- Electric Energy Storage
- Electric Vehicles
- Microgrids
- Transmission & Distribution Automation
- Operational Control System
- Communications
- Smart Homes
- Data Analytics
- Security