Chapter13
Smart grids
Smart grid is a significantly broader term than smart metering. Smart metering is only a basic function within a smart grid, which aims to provide all participants with information about the actual conditions and “health” of the grid and to provide basic data for their decisions.
Definition
As a true smart grid can be viewed a power grid, that can automatically reuse gathered information and provides services, that increase reliability, survivability, and responsiveness of the power grid.
Note
Specifically, it can e.g., deal with locally produced energy, predict power outages before they occur, rapidly restore service. Such a grid can be called “self-healing” and “making decisions”.
Interesting
An aim is total automation of the electricity distribution network – including local production and consumption.
Example
Some examples of automation are
  1. Ability to automatically re-route electricity when a transmission line is downed
  1. Reduce other flows when someone’s rooftop solar panels suddenly send a burst of energy onto the grid.
Interesting
Technically, the building blocks for a smart grid are already available. Deployment of smart grids is one of the priority thematic areas under the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) policy (policy that is focused on linking the energy infrastructure of EU countries) aiming to help integrate renewable energy, complete the European energy market, and allow consumers to better regulate their energy consumption [7].
Note
To achieve smart grid functionality, smart metering needs to be rolled out first. This step is taking place in many European countries, along with the transition from traditional electricity measurement to multi-energy metering.
Note
The smart metering as the system can be viewed as one of the systems in the smart grid. The de-facto list of systems that are present in the smart grid provides [8] and is presented in the Tab. 2.
Table 2. Smart grid – list of the essential systems, note the Smart metering systems in the list
Domain or Function
Systems
Generation
Generation management system
Transmission management system
Substation automation system
Blackout Prevention System - Wide Area Measurement Protection and Control System (WAMPAC)
EMS SCADA system
Flexible AC Transmission Systems
Distribution management systems
FACTS Substation automation system
Feeder automation system
Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS)
FACTS system
DER operation systems
DER operation system
Smart Metering systems
AMI system
Metering-related back office system
Demand and production (generation) flexibility systems
Aggregated prosumers management system
Micro-grid
Micro-grid systems
Marketplace system
Marketplace system
Trading system
E-mobility (connection to grid) Administration systems
E-mobility systems
Administration systems
Asset and Maintenance Management system
Communication network management system
Clock reference system
Authentication, Authorization, Accounting system
Device remote Management system
Weather forecast and observation system