Smart Grid System Report -- July, 2009
The U. S. Department of Energy has released a document entitled Smart Grid System Report. This report totals 84 pages, and is available for download in PDF format at the U. S. Department of Energy Web Site. (Please note: The specific web site given to me now comes up: URL Site Not found; thus please go to the main U. S. Department of Energy Web Site for the PDF file.)
Rather than run through this lengthy, but very important report, I will focus on the Executive Summary, which details the main thrust of the efforts, and the status that we are currently at, as well as projected progress in this very critical effort. For greater detail, the reader is referred to the actual PDF document.
While not all efforts involved in the development of a smart grid can be deemed directly related to green and sustainable building and operations, MANY of these are indeed extremely influential in the way we will use electrical energy in not too distant future.
One good example is the expanded use of advanced metering. With this type of metering, the end user (customer) will be able to see the actual condition of the grid as well as pricing for energy in real time. This will give him or her the choice to react accordingly in terms of whether to alter the use of appliances during periods of peak stress. It will also enable automation of appliance use, if this is elected by the end user. What does this simple application mean for green and sustainable building operations? It means that peak loads can be reduced during periods of stress, and thus, the use smog producing dirty power plants can be minimized during these periods. This will serve to reduce the carbon footprint as well as photo catalyzed smog and ozone alert days.
The report is a result of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Section 1302 of Title XIII. (December 19, 2007) The main idea in this effort is to cover a broad array of electric system technology capability and services, and tie them together in a cohesive manner to improve reliability, operating efficiency, resilience to threats, and equally importantly, the impact on the environment. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as state and trade organizations all had input into this effort. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were also involved.
Key Findings:
The Executive Summary details 20 metrics (See below) that profile the broad areas that are expected to be involved in this effort over the long-term. It is recognized that at least several of these areas are barely feasible at the present, or the penetration level is nascent at best. Indeed, it is often difficult to establish a baseline for status information, especially in the area of Distributed Resource Technology and Information Networks. Micro grids, hybrid vehicles and grid responsive non-generating demand side management are also examples of this issue. However, this will improve as more research is undertaken, as well as greater venture capital is invested. This is the case with all new technological efforts.
The main findings are as follows:
Rather than run through this lengthy, but very important report, I will focus on the Executive Summary, which details the main thrust of the efforts, and the status that we are currently at, as well as projected progress in this very critical effort. For greater detail, the reader is referred to the actual PDF document.
While not all efforts involved in the development of a smart grid can be deemed directly related to green and sustainable building and operations, MANY of these are indeed extremely influential in the way we will use electrical energy in not too distant future.
One good example is the expanded use of advanced metering. With this type of metering, the end user (customer) will be able to see the actual condition of the grid as well as pricing for energy in real time. This will give him or her the choice to react accordingly in terms of whether to alter the use of appliances during periods of peak stress. It will also enable automation of appliance use, if this is elected by the end user. What does this simple application mean for green and sustainable building operations? It means that peak loads can be reduced during periods of stress, and thus, the use smog producing dirty power plants can be minimized during these periods. This will serve to reduce the carbon footprint as well as photo catalyzed smog and ozone alert days.
The report is a result of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Section 1302 of Title XIII. (December 19, 2007) The main idea in this effort is to cover a broad array of electric system technology capability and services, and tie them together in a cohesive manner to improve reliability, operating efficiency, resilience to threats, and equally importantly, the impact on the environment. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as state and trade organizations all had input into this effort. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were also involved.
Key Findings:
- Distributed Energy Resources. Connecting distributed generation as well as storage and renewable resources is now becoming standardized and cost effective. At the present, the effects are low, but the area is growing rapidly. Included here is the integration of micro girds, electric vehicles, and demand response incentives such as grid sensitive appliances that I mentioned above.
- Electricity Infrastructure. Here, we see the application of Advanced Metering Infrastructure as a way of taking automated metering many steps forward, to enable dynamic pricing, and consumer participation mechanisms. Cost/Benefit thresholds are now more favorable for this to become more common place.
- Business and Policy. Experimentation is now starting to take place as financial models are emerging in this area.
- High-Tech Culture Change. The smart grid, in order to succeed, will need to be socially transformational. We have seen this with the use of cell phones, the Internet and Blackberries. We can now see the same changes in the way we react to our use of electric energy. As mentioned above, this will entail the greater use of integrated automated systems and appliances in the business as well as home setting. The delivery and distribution systems will then be able to better respond to current needs, and we will also see a greater physical network security. In order for this to take place, we will need a cross-disciplinary change in our behavior at the personal as well a business conduct levels. Examples will be accepting the curtailment of high energy using appliances during stress periods, and re-scheduling the use of these items during off-peak times (Please see my previous blog entry as a good way to do this with air conditioning.)
The Executive Summary details 20 metrics (See below) that profile the broad areas that are expected to be involved in this effort over the long-term. It is recognized that at least several of these areas are barely feasible at the present, or the penetration level is nascent at best. Indeed, it is often difficult to establish a baseline for status information, especially in the area of Distributed Resource Technology and Information Networks. Micro grids, hybrid vehicles and grid responsive non-generating demand side management are also examples of this issue. However, this will improve as more research is undertaken, as well as greater venture capital is invested. This is the case with all new technological efforts.
The main findings are as follows:
- The Smart Grid will enable informed participation by customers. This will involve advanced metering infrastructure, along with as financial incentives for customer responsive demands in homes and businesses.
- It will accommodate all levels of generation and storage.
- It will enable new products, services and markets. For example, consumer oriented equipment like smart thermostats, clothes dryers and space heaters that can participate in demand control.
- Provide for the Power Quality for the Range of Needs.
- Optimize Asset Utilization and Operating Efficiency.
- Resilience to Disturbances and Natural Disasters.
- Dynamic Pricing. There will be a moderate trend here.
- Real Time System Operations Data Sharing. Moderate Trend.
- Distributed Resource Interconnection Policy. Moderate Trend.
- Policy Regulatory Progress. Moderate Trend.
- Load participation based on grid conditions. Low Trend.
- Load Served by Mega Grids. Low Trend.
- Grid Connected Distributed Generation (Renewable and non-renewable) and Storage. High Trend.
- Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Electric Vehicles. Low Trend.
- Grid Responsive Non-Generating Demand Side Equipment. Low Trend.
- Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Reliability. Declining Trend.
- T&D Automation. High Trend.
- Advanced Meters. High Trend.
- Advanced System Measurement. Moderate Trend.
- Capacity Factors. Flat Trend.
- Generation and T&D Efficiencies. Improving Trend.
- Dynamic Line Ratings. Low Trend.
- Power Quality. Declining Trend.
- Cyber Security. Nascent Trend
- Open Architecture/Standards. Nascent Trend
- Venture Capital. High Trend.
Posted by Alan L. Englander at 7/25/2009 10:37 PM 
Categories: High Tech Culture Change, Energy Independence, Advanced Metering, Electricty Infrastructure, Smart Grid Metrics, Energy Resources
Categories: High Tech Culture Change, Energy Independence, Advanced Metering, Electricty Infrastructure, Smart Grid Metrics, Energy Resources
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