Page 11 - Energy Future - Smart Grid the Future of Electricity

grid as well as distribution system
requires fastest possible control of the
network from the utility or grid control
centres. Various factors contribute to the
economy of operation in an integrated
grid scenario, including optimization
and delivery of power. Under such
situations, the Grid Optimization
tool is really handy and effective,
which is ensured through the proper
deployment of AMI/FNI infrastructure
and proposed ICT in the entire power
chain (refer to Figures 2 and 3). Needless
to say that this infrastructure will
improve visibility of the entire network
and further operations-related analytics.
Transmission and distribution losses
can also be cut down considerably
using the visibility, which will enable
the power companies to improve their
bottom lines.The general performance
of the grid will improve offering better
security, reliability, and efficiency, once location, generally the necessity, of the
the aforesaid visibility and analytics are
properly developed and stabilized. It will
also be possible to pinpoint the faulty
segments in a distribution network and
help in taking the corrective action.
Adding Distributed Generation to the
Grid Smartly
As a concept, distributed generation
began with electrification in the
country and the world. Similarly,
various technologies for generation
of renewable energy, such as solar
PV and solar thermal, wind turbines,
etc., have also been around for some
time, although the technologies used
therein today are vastly updated.
However, the importance of distributed
generation, with particular focus on
renewable energy, lies in the fact that
they can effectively be a part of the
Smart Grid initiative. As is visible in
Figure 2, using the AMI/FNA and other
ICT infrastructure, the utilization of the
solar plants as per actual requirements
of the grid can be made faster and
easier and grid-quality power can be
fed into the grid even from homes and
buildings efficiently and economically.
Other renewable energy sources such
energy future 17 october–december 2016
as wind turbine, fuel cells, etc., can also INTEGRATED ENERGY
be integrated to the grid likewise and
the beneficiaries will be utilities and
homeowners. Will it not make perfect
economic sense to make or save
extra money this way? Reducing the
dependence on large thermal plants will
be another advantage of this initiative,
effectively cutting global warming and
reducing the carbon footprint.
Energy Storage
The concept that electric energy
cannot be stored easily and needs be
consumed as and when generated has
been traditionally ingrained but the
same faces a challenge in the changing
environment of Smart Grid. Storage is
going to be inseparable in this game
and needs to be delivered as a viable
component. Although the storage
of electric energy needs no central
same, at times needs be recognized.
In the Smart Grid scenario, the storage
facilities can be distributed as per
requirement considering perspectives
of distributed generation and load
centre.The storage concept has not
been felt historically in the light of its
impracticality and traditional belief.
However, with possibility of large-scale
introduction of renewable energy
MANAGEMENT UNDER THE
SMART GRID ENVIRONMENT
SHALL MAKE USE OF A
SET OF ADVANCED TOOLS
AND APPLICATIONS FOR
MONITORING AND CONTROL
OF SMART NETWORKS,
POWER PLANTS OWNED BY
VARIOUS UTILITIES, HOMES/
BUILDINGS UTILIZING THE
SMART GRID AND POWER
SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE,
AND RELATED ICT AND
VARIOUS APPLICATIONS.
sources, the intermittency associated
with it, points to the feasibility of energy
storage in a Smart Grid scenario.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
(PHEV): Smart Charging and V2G
This concept appears to be totally
out-of-the-box, yet one has to accept
the same in view of the revolution that
has already started.The large-scale
introduction of PHEV is on the cards, and
the automobile industry is experiencing
a flurry of activities in the related