Tomorrow’sSmarterGrid:
EvolvingTowardsNewValue
By Forrest Small & Jacquelyn Bean
A
confluence of forces is beginning to transform the IntheSmartGrid,inexpensive,durablesensorsthatinclude
electricitylandscape.Theyaredrivingtheevolutionof communicationscapabilitywillbedeployedinlargenumbers
anelectricityinfrastructurethatismoreefficient,more throughout the network to monitor electrical parameters,
reliable and integrates a diverse mix of energy resources, environmentalconditions,andthehealthofequipment.While
including renewable energy. Commonly referred to as the itisdifficulttosayexactlywhatformmanyofthesesensors
‘SmartGrid’,thisinfrastructureiswidelyrecognisedasplaying willtakeinthelong-term,advancesinkeytechnologiesgiveus
afundamentalroleinaddressingourenergychallengesover a glimpse of how things may evolve. At the Center for
thecomingyears. Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society
ThereareasmanydefinitionsoftheSmartGridasthereare (CITRIS)attheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,researchers
people thinking about it. However, most visions include a areworkingtoapplymicroelectromechanicalsystems(MEMs)
numberofprinciplesincommonandaregenerallyconsistent technology to develop sensors that can detect defects in
withthesevencharacteristicsofamoderngridaspresentedin underground cable insulation that can ultimately lead to
theModern Grid Strategydevelopedundertheleadershipofthe failuresandoutages.Thesensors,whichareself-poweredand
US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology include communications, could ultimately be embedded in
Laboratory: new cable during extrusion, creating a cable that could
1. Self Heals monitor itself and provide a wealth of information to grid
2. Motivates & Includes the Customer operatorstoenhanceperformanceandeffectivecapacity.
3. Resists Attack Communications is probably the most consistently
4. Provides Power Quality For 21
st
Century Needs articulatedrequirementoftheSmartGrid.Theadvancement
5. AccommodatesAllGeneration&StorageOptions andavailabilityofcommunicationshasraisedtheexpectation
6. Enables Markets ofwhatispossibleindailylife,andalsofortheSmartGrid.It
7. Optimises Assets & Operates Efficiently is well recognised that the ability to move data and
information from whoever has it to whoever needs it is
Thesesevencharacteristicsdescribewhatamoderngridwill fundamentaltoachievingtheleveloffunctionalitythatthe
beabletodo,notwhatitwillbe.ThewaytheSmartGridis SmartGridpromises.
implemented,andthenatureofthetechnologyandsystems Communicationsintheutilityindustryisnotnew.Infact,
onwhichitisbuiltwilldifferdependingontheinterestsof utilities have relied on communications systems in various
stakeholders. It will be influenced significantly by public areasoftheiroperationsforyears,fromSCADAnetworksto
policy, existing utility systems, and the rate at which fiber optics and wireless communications systems. A key
technologyandstandardsdevelop.Indeed,duetothenature change from these systems is the transition to standard
oftheelectricutilityindustryinNorthAmerica,therearelikely protocols and inter-operability between systems, plus the
tobemanydifferentSmartGrids. expectation of availability throughout the network. Today,
mostutilitiesareintheprocessofmakingkeydecisionsabout
The Building Blocks their communications strategies to ensure that the systems
MostexpertsagreethatakeyfeatureoftheSmartGridisthe theydeployandmaintainwillsupporttheSmartGrid.
integration of an electric power infrastructure with an Withtheabundanceofdataflowingfromavastnetworkof
informationinfrastructure.Itistheabilitytoobtain,process communications-enabled sensors, it is critical that there is
andactoninformationthatwillputthe‘smarts’inthegrid. somewaytoprocessthedataandmakedecisions.Infact,the
Therearefourkeygroupsofbuildingblocktechnologiesforthe intelligenceoftheSmartGridwillcomefromtheabilityto
SmartGrid:Sensors,communications,informationprocessing, analyseandmanageinformation.Insomecases,information
andactuators. processingmaybedonecentrally,asinthecaseofameter
Sensorspromisetotransformthegridfromasystemthatis datamanagementsystem(MDM).Inothers,localprocessors
largely‘invisible’tothepeoplethatoperateit.Today,system mayanalysepricinginformationanddeterminewhetheror
operatorscan‘see’thestatusofkeysystemelementsandthe nottocurtailapplianceload.
loadonimportantlinesorequipment.Butoverall,thefieldof Utilities are increasingly moving toward an enterprise
viewisverynarrow,andresolutionisverylow;particularly information bus paradigm (Figure 1), where various
whencomparedtootherreal-timesystems. operationalandinformationsystemsinterfacewithastandard
128 worldPower2009
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