Smart Grids and Grid Integration
Today’s electricity grid is mainly designed to flow one direction from large-scale, far away power plants and into our homes and businesses. This process is inefficient, with many chances for losses in generation, transportation, in stepping the voltage down for use in buildings, and finally in it’s inefficient use. Alternatively, the Smart Grid allows for two-way flows, allowing for these buildings to not only consume, but become producers and exporters of energy.
Why Grid Integration matters to Local Governments
As more and more renewable power is produced on, in or near homes, businesses and municipal buildings and fed into the grid, new ways to manage this energy will be needed. A smart grid can manage these energy flows, utilizing the internet, smart controls, and energy storage to ensure intermittent renewables are properly integrated, and that the community can have a secure energy supply.
What is a Smart Grid?
The Smart Grid differs from the uni-directional flow, blind spots, and vulnerability to cascading failure of today's electric grid. The Smart Grid changes this by using advanced sensors and internet technology to precisely match supply and demand. It is no longer supply that is the focus of grid operators, but demand. With the smart grid, supply from long distance lines can be modulated according to local, decentralized production (such as rooftop PV systems). Advanced electrical equipment, like air conditioning systems and dishwashers can adapt their duty cycle to off-peak hours. Energy efficiency is greatly increased, and many more renewable energy resources can be connected to the grid.
As more and more renewable power is produced on, in or near homes, businesses, municipal buildings and communities, and fed into the grid, new ways to manage this energy will be needed. A smart grid can manage these energy flows, utilizing the internet, smart controls, and energy storage to ensure intermittent renewables are properly integrated, and that the community can have a secure energy supply.
Smart Meters
Smart meters are one feature of the Smart Grid, but are also extremely valuable devices for saving energy. A smart meter allows a consumer to see when and where they are using energy in a building. Paired with time of use pricing, smart meters enable consumers to lower energy use to take advantage of off peak pricing and to see where unnecessary energy is being used, and adjust behaviour accordingly. At the same time, these devices can be programmable and automated, cycling down air conditioners or refrigerators when the grid system is under stress, allowing the utility to save money by avoiding the installation of expensive peaking capacity. This is an example of demand side management. These devices are the beginning of the smart grid, opening up two way communication and coordinating demand and supply in real time.
