Global Plant Engineering - October 2010 - (Page 45)

Smart Grid dards. The European union (EU) and China also announced major initiatives for Smart Grid technology research, demonstration and deployment in 2009. Smart Grid challenges The main challenges facing Smart Grids – doing more with less and improving efficiency, reliability, security and environmental sustainability, will depend on a combination of sensor, communication, information and control technologies to make the whole grid smart – from the entire energy production cycle right through to delivery and utilization, smart. The most urgent technical challenges include: • The economic buildup of grid capacity while minimizing, as much as possible, its environmental impact • Increasing grid asset utilization with power flow control and management • Managing and controlling power flow to reduce power loss and peak demand on both the transmission and distribution systems • Connecting renewable energy resources from local and remote locations to the grid and managing intermittent generations • Integrating and optimizing energy storage to reduce capacity demand on grids • Integrating mobile loads, (for example, plug-in electrical vehicles) to reduce stress on the grid and to use them as resources • Reducing the risk of blackouts; and when one has occurred, detecting and isolating any system disturbances and the quick restoration of service • Managing consumer response to reduce stress on the grid and optimize asset utilization. Smart Grid technology components A Smart Grid consists of technologies, divided into four categories, that work together to provide Smart Grid functionalities. The bottom or physical layer is analogous to the muscles in a human body and it is where energy is converted, transmitted, stored, and consumed; the sensor and actuator layer corresponds to the sensory and motor nerves that perceive the environment and control the muscles; the communication layer corresponds to the nerves that transmit the perception and motor signals; and the decision-intelligence layer corresponds to the human brain. The decision intelligence layer is made up of all the computer programs that run in a relay, an intelligent electronic device, a substation automation system, a control center or enterprise back office. These programs process the information The importance of decision intelligence and the actuator system in Smart Grids cannot be overstated. from the sensors or the communication and IT systems, and produce either the control directives or information to support business process decisions. The importance of decision intelligence and the actuator system in Smart Grids cannot be overstated; without controllable grid components to change the state of the power grid to a more efficient and reliable one, all data collected and communicated will be of very limited value. For the decision intelligence layer to

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Global Plant Engineering - October 2010

Global Plant Engineering - October 2010
Contents
Comment
Global Views
Hannover Messe Report
Asia Report
Americas Report
Winning the Race Against Equipment Failure
Take 8 Steps to Debug Process Control System
Optimize the Enterprise: Measurement, Empowerment, and Control are the Essential Ingredients
Air Apparent: Compressed Air Audits Let You Find the Leaks in Your System
The Promise of the Smart Grid: A Flexible, Dynamic Energy Management System
Europe Report

Global Plant Engineering - October 2010

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