Six Challenges in Building the Smart Grid 1

Six Challenges in Building the Smart Grid 1. Consumer acceptance 2. Volume of data and computational complexity 3. Communications 4. Interoperability 5. Cyber Security 6. Providing the ROI

Future The Future Grid

A grid of grids

A factory or a grid?

An office park or a grid?

A house or a grid?

What defines a grid? Power Control

Definition Department of Energy -An electric grid is a network of synchronized power providers and consumers that are connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers.

On a nice day, the utility is running smoothly. Everything is “Hot”

A bad storm comes through and some areas lose power

But backup power, distributed generation, and stored energy allow some areas to island continue operation…

Smart control systems allow the islands to network

This may allow some power to be restored in additional areas as the utility works to bring dark areas on line

Soon, everyone has power

The smaller grids reconnect with the utility

OK, it is an interesting concept, but how does it work?

Smart Appliances Center of Control? Estimates of 45 Million Smart Appliances by 2020 Navigant Sept 2012

5 Cent Solar? 30

Recent PV Design Cost Estimates 5 Cent Solar – Yes 31

DIY Always Wins Ø Driving a car Ø Writing a report Ø Booking a flight

150, 000 results

Nellis Air Force Base Solar DOD Goal: 25 X 25 – 25% renewable by 2025 U. S. Army committing $7 billion

The real question --Given that our world is changing, is it best to continue with the same sort of control paradigm, or does emerging smart grid technology require something different?