Smart Grid as a Desideratum in the Energy

Landscape: Key Aspects and Challenges

Dr Valsamma K M
Associate Professor:Deaprtment Of SAC,
Kerala Agricultural University
KCAET,Tavanur-679573,Kerala,INDIA.
E-mail:valsammakm@ gmail.com
Abstract It is a truism that in the architecture of the old
transmission system fault tolerance is achieved by redundancy
which is only matched by a less fault tolerant distribution side.
Frequent outages are becoming every where more of a rule
rather than an exception. The Ultimate Smart Grid in this
context becomes a vision for the future. As per EPRI estimate
there is a preponderating 4 to 1 benefit from a changeover
to smart grids [1] .Whereas the 21st century world is in dire
need, of digital quality power supply, with Flexible AC
Transmission systems [FACTS] and/or superconducting
synchronous condensers capable of providing instantaneous
voltage support to reduce the sags, and super conducting
fault current limiters to correct the depressions created by
transmissionsystem-faults, in combination with synchronous
switching to take care of transient over-voltages, at the
transmission level, high speed transfer switches capable of
removing disturbed sources and replacing them with clean
back up supplies and an array of innovations like dynamic
voltage restorers , DER[Distributed Energy Resource] and
micro grids to provide voltage support buffering are needed at
the distribution side of electric power infrastructure, it is a
fact that the current obsolescent electrical infrastructure
remains deplorably bogged down by an antiquated mid-20th
century technology.
One of the most fundamental of electric functions is
getting electricity from the point of generation to the point of
use and todays need is to make the transition from the
distribution system of today to the grid of the future, Smart
energy is the application of digital information technology to
optimize electrical power system and SG is the product of
smart energy technology to electrical power delivery and
generation. Smart energy technologies are going to transform
the power network into a SG capable of meeting 21st century
economic, energy security, reliability and integrating these
two prime requirements with renewable energy sources. To
that end, the conventional grids which are
by todays
standards almost obsolete , have to be reshaped and reengineered to include digital enhancements appropriate for the
vision of a Smart Grid. The realization of smart grid will
involve integration of new technologies at all levels of grid
operation and control. Such a concept of Smart grid
transformation would improve overall energy efficiency by
implementing intelligent and advanced control functions that
would enable greater interaction between grid and the

consumer. This paper outlines in a nutshell the concept &

characteristics of smart grid with emphasis on various key
aspects involved in the modernization of the present day
electric grid with respect to generation, transmission and
distribution in addition to the new challenges, and
requirements.
Keywords- Distributed Generation, Energy grids, Smart Grids,
Computer based Grid Technology.
I.

INTRODUCTION

The Smart Grid is an electrical power infrastructure that

makes intelligent decisions about the state of the electrical
power system to maintain a stable environment, so it has all of
the functionality of our current power system plus several new
functionalities [2]. In addition it is an electric system that
uses information, two-way, cyber-secure communication
technologies, and computational intelligence in an integrated
fashion across electricity generation, transmission, substations,
distribution and consumption to achieve a system that is clean,
safe, secure, reliable, resilient, efficient, and sustainable[3]
Smart grid technologies are the only saving grace in the
otherwise murky scenario in the energy landscape of the
world. Today, the utilities across the world are facing many
challenges that were never before anticipated or prepared for.
On the one hand , Smart Grid intelligently takes care of the
demand side management of electricity, by tracking exactly
how much electricity each consumer is using by adjusting
the consumer rates and usage patterns automatically for
maximum efficiency. Smart grids even as they allow for
intermittent alternative energy sources like wind and solar to
be more easily slotted into the Grid of the utilities, by doing
so also change the conventional status of a consumer into
one of prosumer combining the status of both a consumer
and producer at the same time, in a fusion of the two words,
producer + consumer [4] . In all the developing countries
including India and China, an ideal blueprint for the future
energy resource, by way of the Smart Grid technologies, is
seeking to transform the energy sector as a whole by causing
a sea change to occur in the way electricity is created,
delivered and priced, so much so that the very complexion of
the energy sector will stand changed once Smart Grid is
switched on. It will be possible to instrument everything
starting from smart meters at homes to turbines in plants and

even the network itself. In this process the grid capabilities are
scaled up and linked to thousands of power sources, including
most importantly, the renewable energy sources. The
integration enables the generation of new data which can be
turned into real insight, sub serving timely decision making, in
real time, which is not merely desirable but is a desideratum.
Smart Grid offers tailor made solutions for the kind of
distribution and transmission losses of the order of 32.53%
[5] that is occurring in countries like India. If these losses are
avoided by the introduction of Smart grids it will have the
salutary effect of offsetting the energy shortage which in India
is currently as high as around 11% and the peak capacity
shortage ruling at 11.3%.
A. What is a Smart Grid?
As per the conceptualized vision of Smart Grid
the
shape 21st century grid is fashioned on a model that
exploits the huge progress that has been made in the digital
technology and advanced materials.[6]. The term "smart grid"
refers to a modernized electrical power distribution network
with long-distance transmission lines that incorporates
networked intelligent digital sensors to optimize operations,
benefit customers and the environment, increase efficiency,
and coordinate small and alternative power sources. The
benefits of smart grid are numerous. A smart grid would save
energy and emit less carbon and hence it is eco friendly. A
smart pre supposes intelligent, networked electric meters that
can track electricity use and adjust rates and usage patterns
automatically. It would make it easier to integrate alternative,
intermittent power sources like wind and solar into the
electrical supply. And finally it would have more-efficient,
superconducting transmission lines to reduce losses similar to
the Tres Amigas Superstation near Clovis linking US three
main power grids in Texas, Eastern and Western states for the
first time which would allow buyers and sellers to send and
receive renewable energy anywhere in the U.S.[7]. What is
more, it is going to boost Renewable energy use as developers
connect facilities to the superstation, and send electricity
through PNMs [an energy holding company based in the U.S.
state of New Mexico.]system to Tres Amigas from other
places.
Todays power grid is primarily composed of three
components; viz, Generation (central generating station),
Transmission and Distribution ( operated from control centers)
facilities. As per Smart Grid Basics it refers to the
progressive evolution of the electricity network towards a
network that monitors and controls grid activities, ensuring a
two-way flow of electricity and information between power
plants and consumersand all points in between[8], in order
to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure
electricity supply. It can be defined as an electric system that
uses two way information, cyber secure communication
technologies, and computational intelligence in an integrated
way across power generation to distribution systems .

Source:www. : Dmc.uae.net
Actually, Smart Grid is an auto balancing, self monitoring and
intelligent power system that accepts any source of fuel and
transforms it into consumers end use with minimal human
intervention, that will allow optimized use of Renewable
Energy Sources (RES), thereby reducing /minimizing the
collective environmental carbon foot print.
A smart
grid,
is one that enables real time
communication between the consumer and utility allowing to
optimize a consumers energy usage based on environmental
and/ or price preferences and operates by the infusion of the
interoperable hardware and software components. SG has the
capability to accommodate technical difficulties of integrating
renewable resources like wind and solar to the grid, providing
further reduction to GHG emissions. Under the remit of the
discussion comes various Smart concepts & solutions , key
aspects and challenges for smart Grids implementation on the
generation, transmission and distribution sides respectively.

Source: tamunews.tamu.edu

II SMART GRID CHALLENGES

classic book Living with High-Risk Technologies social
scientist Charles Perrow has said that tight coupling
technologies are prone to system accidents as when power
is transferred from a long distance , through inter connected
electrical power grid as it happens today, when an overstress
acts as a triggers in the power line of neighboring grids
which in turn sets off a cascade of system failures that
blast critical nodes like fire crackers on a string. This is
symptomatic of inadequate grid design and management. The
expert group that went into the underlying causes of Italy's
nationwide blackout of 28 September 2003 and the north
eastern North American blackout of 14 August 2003 had
reached similar conclusions.
A chain of seemingly
preventable electrical events crashed the northeastern grid,
darkening millions of customers' homes and businesses in the
United States and Canada. Some of the reasons for the
malfunctioning has more to do with the Utility industry
restructuring that had led to an unbundling of generation,
transmission, and distribution activities, with coordination of
systems put in the hands of entities called Independent System
Operators (ISOs) than with the intrinsic design flaw of the
grid. The law which enabled deregulation even as it increased
demand for transmission systems actually did little to enhance
the grid to handle the increased energy flows by augmenting
the Carrying capacity,
commensurate with
needs.
Admittedly the most complex and tightly coupled systems
ever constructed for use in daily life are those making up the
interconnected electric power grid, which is by its nature
vulnerable to system accidents. Under the old
grid
architecture if a power company were to offer its local
customers all the power they demanded at all times, by placing
reliance on its own resources, then a need for banking back
up and reserve generation and transmission would inevitably
arise. Yet sometimes even that backup might be doomed to
fail through "normal" accidents and the power company
would thus wish to have recourse to the backup reserves of
neighboring power companies. By linking local networks into
wider grids, the power industry would be able to pool its
reserve capacity. But with transmissions used to the limit of
capacity this is at once an instant recipe for disaster. In a
deregulated power system, with monetary concerns dominant
and uppermost , the utilities in US and elsewhere were
making easy
money by buying power where it was
temporarily cheap and selling where it was dear. By trading
power over interstate and trans continental distances, utilities
were able to squeeze out even the last penny from their
reserves. But in any case ,it is axiomatic that there is, no
such thing as a free lunch. In this process even the reserve
capacity, was pressed into service leaving nothing to draw
on in a pinch That marked the end of reliable power delivery.
An anatomy of the 2003 outages had conclusively shown
that in the case of power outage that occurred in Ohio, the
company's monitoring equipment wasn't working properly,
and so that the company was completely ignorant about the
escalating crisis. When stress on the grid is identified, what
is required is to isolate the problem by shutting down local

service, but as it happened in Ohio, a decision is sometimes

taken nonetheless to ride through the escalating crisis against
the
prudent operating guidelines and procedures
recommended by NERC and other regulatory agencies ,
which normally demand that the affected part of the system
be "islanded," that is to say, electrically isolated. But as it
happened in Ohio it might so happen the violent power
surges produced by the interconnected system load could
sometimes be much higher than what the
grid may
withstand. Cascading failures are almost intrinsic to electrical
power, which is not linear in all its functions.
WE may say by way of analogy that transmission lines are like
water pipes. Just as water needs pressure to move, power
systems need reactive power arising from voltage being out of
phase with current and consumed by inductive loads like coils
and the transmission lines themselves, and added by capacitive
loads, often consisting of sophisticated, state-of-the-art
equipment relying on large semiconductor devices and power
electronics technology. When there is net consumption of
reactive power in a section of the grid, it must some how be
added to maintain voltage. Without reactive power, quality
electricity cannot be delivered to all customers equally in the
same circuit. There must be a constant balancing act between
supply and demand of all available resources such as power,
reactive power, and transmission capacity. When this balance
is either precarious or pushed to the limit, the transmission
system has to be deemed to be at full capacity, ready to burst
at the seams and even a small interruption of power
transmission or generation can cascade and lash out violently
and unpredictably in a matter of seconds. An overloaded
transmission line may cause cascading line tripping; and the
resultant outage can force generators and transformers to trip
off line, widening the area affected. Oscillatory instability
builds, thanks to the reason generators still on line are no
longer working in perfect phase with one another.
Consequently as the power system separates into islands, the
harmonious distribution of load and generation becomes
unstable resulting in triggering the system frequency deviation
from the nominal value. This imbalance pushes still more
equipment to trip off line, causing more separation of
generation, reactive power, and transmission resources that are
delivering energy.
The manner in which Smart Grids go about remedying the
maladies of the old grid makes the case for up gradation of
old grids into smart grids not merely desirable but necessary
also. Whereas the characteristic feature of the existing grid is
that it is Electromechanical, in nature with one-way
communication ,Centralized generation, Manual monitoring,
Manual restoration, with attendant Failures and blackouts, and
Limited control, in contrast Smart Grids are digital as
opposed to the
factum of
the old grid being
electromechanical .Similarly where the old grid has only one
way communication, smart has two way communication,
distributed generation in place of centralized generation, self
monitoring in place of manual monitoring , pervasive sensors
in place few sensors ,self healing in place of manual

restoration ,islanding in place of blackouts and finally

Pervasive control in place of limited control. Islanding in the
smart grid parlance refers to the condition of a distributed
generation (DG) generator continuing to power a location even
though power from the electric utility is no longer present.
Advanced control and protection methods envisaged under
smart Grids are factored include differential line relaying
,adaptive settings, and various system integrity protection
schemes that rely on low latency communications whereby all
forms of flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS )systems
devices and HVDC and new storage technologies will respond
to control signals sent to address perturbations occurring in
milliseconds. Similarly Improved interfaces & decision
support utilize instantaneous measurements from phasor
measurement Units (PMUs) and other sources to drive fast
simulations and advanced visualization tools that can help
system operators assess dynamic challenges to system
stabilization . A literature survey of the Smart Grid gives us
an overview of technologies , along with the technology gaps
. The Smart Grid will be resilient to attacks and natural
disasters. The Smart Grid will not only be resilient to physical
attacks, but also cyber attacks. The electrical power grid is a
complicated system that is at the root of most U.S. economic
growth. This makes the electrical power grid a critical asset,
and damage to it can have devastating affects to our society's
welfare. Parallels are drawn between the electrical power grid
and the Roman aqueduct system [9]. As per NETL study
Smart provides an increased power quality and It has been
estimated that by 2011, 16% of the electrical load will require
digital quality power.[10]. The Smart Grid accommodates all
generation and storage options available at present like the
renewable that are often geographically separated from
traditional power sources, and when they are integrated into
the power grid it is as distributed power sources. As per a
study in New Scientist Germany has been experiencing issues
related to problems in their electrical power grid. Customers
using solar panel end up becoming the cause of overload in
the electrical power system when surges of power come from
the solar panels. So is the case of islanding.[11].
.

grid and practical aspects has laid down solid basis for the
development of SG .in the following technical aspects:
A.

Generation Link

The power generation link includes distributed

generation, renewable energy generation, generator and
power system coordinate operation and energy saving oriented
dispatching and auto-generation control.
B. Transformation link
It includes UHV AC and DC transmission, FACTS, digital
substation technology, PMU, DMS state oriented
maintenance. And so on.
C

.Distribution and supply Link.

This includes distribution and feeder automation system
,custom power, auto-metering, automation management
technology, and electric automobile charge power station
construction and so on.2
D . Dispatching link.
In the dispatching link next generation dispatch technology
support system dispatch application platforms, energy saving
generation dispatch technology, online early warning and
coordinated security and defense technology, integrated model
management, massive information process technology,
intelligent visualization, dispatch defense technology for
extreme disaster.

III SMART GRID GOALS-BASIS OF

CONSTRUCTING SMART GRID

The basic development goal of power grid is to form a secure

and economical power grid with features as diverse as secure,
reliable., efficient, economical, clean and green, flexible and
compatible, open and interactive, integrated and so on. Smart
grid holds the promise that the power system can go green by
not simply reducing the use of dirty power generation methods
but instead become a system that can take more control
measures to lower GHG through efficient integration of RES.
Smart Grid
that focus on improving demand-side
management for energy and promoting RE could be a
transformational force that redefines the way the people view
energy
generation,
transmission
and
consumption.
Constructing SG firstly depend upon strong physical power

Source: www.gocanvas.com
E .Information building block(IBB)
IBB includes construction of system information collection,
load management system, automatic meter reading system.
And other related systems.

IV DISTRIBUTION & TRANSMISSION

CHALLENGES

In 2003the National Academy of Engineering had cited the

electrification made possible by the US electrical power grid,
as "the most significant engineering achievement of the 20th
century." With well over 9,200 generating units that produce
more than 1 million megawatts of electricity all connected to
a network with more than 300,000 miles of transmission lines
the U.S. electrical power grid the largest machine on Earth
.The difference between a power grid and an internet is very
small .in that whereas a computer network can store data until
it's needed, electrical power unlike the data in computer
network
must be used at very nearly the moment it's
generated.[2]. According to Business Round Table, US, the
estimated dollar impact of T&D losses is of the order of $25
billion per year, which is the equivalent of 226 million barrels
of crude oil which in turn is roughly equal to 3 months oil
production of Kuwait. Similarly of all energy consumed to
produce electricity, only 30% reaches consumers in the form
of electricity;60% is lost in generation and 10% is lost in
transmission and distribution.
21st century Grid takes advantage of the tremendous
progress made in digital technology which is riding roughshod
over other technologies, what with the synergized convergence
of information technology has become a great booster-shot in
Grid modernization. Integrated communication enhancements
like Broad band, low latency channels connecting transmission
stations to each other and to control stations, are the necessary
ingredients which help one another in key technology areas.
Phasing measurement data streaming over high speed
channels, Flexible AC Transmission System Devices,
HDVC(High Voltage Direct Current) and new technologies
etc are set to respond to advance control signals including
differential line relaying ,and adaptive settings that are
system-designed to
address
nuances that occur in
milliseconds, all of which as of now rely on low latency(low
response delay ) communications. Improved interfaces,
utilizing PMUs( phasor measurement Units) for fast
simulations can help assess
dynamic system stability
challenges.
All the above technological nitty gritty associated with up
gradation are going to be more and more made use of in the
modernization of the electrical grid, involving distribution
and transmission; but all the same, it is the distribution side
that is going to get most of the initial focus and attention , for
the simple reason, compared to transmission it is the
distribution side that is obviously less advanced .On the one
side , the envisaged changes in the distribution side will be
conspicuously visible , with distributed Generation & storage,
demand
response,
state-funded
advanced
metering
infrastructure, distribution automation, two-way power flow,
differentiated power quality, while together , will represent a
revolutionary, sea change in distribution ,on the other side ,
changes to transmission will be rather evolutionary. But this
will not mean that in the new distribution paradigm the role of
transmission will be somewhat diminished.

IV CONCLUSION:
Traditional methods used to evaluate distributed energy
resources (DER) do not adequately capture the range of
benefits potentially offered by energy storage system. The
overarching benefits of Grid modernization are far too
numerous and far reaching. They encompass power quality
enhancement like reduction of harmonics and momentary
voltage excursions, reliability, national security, economic
vitality, and reduced environmental impact. Country specific
benefits include,(1) virtual elimination of cascading outages,
(2) improved tolerance to natural disasters(3) improved public
and worker safety(4) reduced energy losses and reduced
transmission congestion coupled with efficient electrical
generation (5) fuller utilization of Grid assets (6) more
targeted &efficient Grid maintenance & fewer equipment
failures. What will be most noteworthy about the Smart Grids
will be that new renewable power sources that are at present
out of reach of most of the present day centralized
transmission grid will be connected by building new lines to
these upcoming plants, in what is going to be an advancement
from quasi-steady to dynamic. In this process, as demonstrated
by Amperion, traditional communication technologies like
optic fiber and micro wave are going to be speedily replaced
by Broad band over power line (BPL) for application on
transmission lines. Currently a 5 mile,69kV line is operating
in the US at megabit per second data rates with latency of less
than 10 milliseconds. In The US this high voltage BPL
technology is now waiting to be extended to 138 kV. The
proper application of FACTS devices, dynamic circuit ratings
and other transmission technologies will allow the deferral of
some transmission line additions. Improved transmission line
power-transfer capability means fewer lines are ultimately
needed, which also lessens environmental impact. EPRI[
Electric Power Research Institute,US] has estimated a 4 to 1
societal benefit ratio.
The cause of the outages in US was not recognizing load
and stability restrictions- on account of human errorwhich
suggested a remedy of institution of improved system wide
monitoring, alarms and power state estimation programs. A
distance relay system has to have the ability to differentiate
between fault and load especially when the system is under
stress. Transmission enhancements required for 21st century
are: bulk storage devices like flow batteries, FACTs devices
like Unified power flow controllers ,static var compensators,
static synchronous compensators, and current limiting
devices(CLDs) based on high temperature super conductivity.
These devices will make the transmission much more
accommodating of variations in load and /or voltage. Of these,
FACTS represents a mature technology to control AC
transmission system parameter and this increase power
transfer capability and improve voltage regulation Changes in
Generation and load pattern may make such flexibility
extremely desirable.
REFERENCES:
[1] The NETL Modern Grid Initiative Powering our

1st-Century Economy MODERN GRID BENEFITS

August 2007
[2] Russell Kay ,Comuterworld Quickstudy: the smart grid:
May 11, 2009
[3] H. Gharavi and R. Ghafurian. Smart grid: The electric
energy system of the future. Proceedings of the IEEE,
99(6):917 921, 2011
[4] ICT based Energy systems of the future, Federal Ministry
of
Economics and Technology, Germany 2010. .
[5] Ministry of Power, Govt of India Aggregate
Technical & Commercial (AT&C) loss 2003-2004
[6] By Stanley H.Horowitz,Arun G.Phadke,& Bruce A.Renz
The future Power transmission
[7] Kevin Robinson Avila:New Mexico Business
Weekly:Huge Tres Amigas Project to break Ground this
Summer ,March 9,2012
[8] White paper : Smart Grid Basics :Turning information
into
power 2010.
[9] M. J. Assante, Infrastructure Protection in the Ancient
World," Hawaii InternationalConference on System
Sciences, vol. 10, pp. 1-10, 2009.
[10] NETL, The NETL Modern Grid Initiative
Powering our 21st-Century Economy: MODERN GRID
BENEFITS. Department of Energy, 2007.
[11] NewScientist, Solar power could crash Germany's grid,"
2010.