Smart Grid Renewable Energy Analysis

What is smart grid

Date posted: 2011/10/26

what is the smart grid.
It is upgrading the current electric grid infrastucture and adding a technology layer to it so that

1. It supports 2 way communication

2. Can support distributed generation including renewable energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, storage

3. provides support for Electric Vehicle

4. is efficient in responding to power outages, has flexible pricing

5. is secure
URL - What is smart grid

Smart Grid Customer Segments

Date posted: 2011/05/19

Smart Grid Customer Segments
Savers
Sustainers
Technopiles
Ignorers
Smart Grid Communication should be designed around customer segments
URL - Smart Grid Customer Segments

How Utilities will pay for Smart Grid Investments

Date posted: 2010/03/15

To modernize the grid, utilities would spend $1-2 Trillion in the next 10-20 years on network infrastructure, systems, and on integration of existing energy generation with new distributed renewable sources of energy. How will utilities pay for smart grid investments.

Sources of Smart Grid Funds

Federal Stimulus Grants - As much as $3.4 billion in Smart Grid Investment Grant has been allocated by US federal Govt. (Source - TBA)

Pass the cost to customers Charge customers for new products and services or bundle services with other products?

Reduced Costs

Increased productivity Smart meters will reduce the need for meter readers who read electricity meter data manually (??) and crews that manage outages etc with next generation Outage management, SCADA and other systems

Increased operational efficiency of energy transmission and consumption With demand response systems, utilities would not have to deploy high energy plants, there will be increased transmission efficiency and consumer behaviour will change once they have more information. Intial smart grid pilot tests suggest energy consumption reduction between 6-15% (Actual results may be different?)

Increased Reliability Utitlies face significant fines (ranging from several thousand and millions) if they don't meet regulated reliabilty metrics. During service interrruptions, utilities also lose revenues.

Prevention of electricity theft This may not be a big problem in United States but developing countries like India, China as much as 40% of the power is stolen during transmission. Smart meters will prevent electricity theft.

URL - How Utilities will pay for Smart Grid Investments

Smart Grid Implementation Issues

Date posted: 2010/03/14

There has been some backlash from customers when their meters were replaced with smart meters.

1. Some have indicated an increase in their utility bills. Utilities have maintained that it is a co-incidence. The likely increase in monthly fees is likely due to the weather conditions and price of natural gas than due to faulty reading by smart meters.

Utilities are now working with technology partners to do a better job of communicating the impact of smart meters to their customers.

URL - Smart Grid Implementation Issues

Related Posts - Smart Grid

• Top trends driving adoption of smart grid

• Smart Grid Market Size and opportunity

Other Posts

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• Thailand Energy Mix - 44% Petroleum

• Austria Energy Mix - 27% Hydroelectric

• Kazakhstan Energy Mix - 55% Coal

• Singapore Energy Mix - 85% Petroleum

• Portugal Energy Mix - 21% Renewables

• Spain Energy Mix - 22% Natural Gas

• Sri Lanka Energy Mix - 63% Oil

• Taiwan Energy Mix - 34% Coal

• New Zealand Energy Mix - 27% Hydroelectric

• Colombia Energy Mix - 29% Hydroelectric