Grid Stations

An Electrical Grid (also referred to as an electricity grid or electric grid) is an interconnected

network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers. It consists of generating stations
that produce electrical power, high-voltage transmission lines that carry power from distant
sources to demand centers, and distribution lines that connect individual customers.

Background of Grid Stations

The world's first power station was designed and built by Lord Armstrong at Cragside, England
in 1868.

As mentioned above, the electrical grid is expected to evolve to a new grid paradigm—smart
grid, an enhancement of the 20th century electrical grid. The traditional electrical grids are
generally used to carry power from a few central generators to a large number of users or
customers. In contrast, the new emerging smart grid uses two-way flows of electricity and
information to create an automated and distributed advanced energy delivery network.

Many research projects have been conducted to explore the concept of smart grid. According to a
newest survey on smart grid, the research is mainly focused on three systems in smart grid- the
infrastructure system, the management system, and the protection system.

Smart Grid
The term “smart grid” is a flexible concept which can be very simple or very ambitious in its
expression. The European Union Commission Task Force for Smart Grids defines “smart grid”
as an electricity network that can cost-efficiently integrate the behaviour and actions of all users
connected to it in a manner which ensures an economically efficient,
sustainable power system with low losses and high levels of quality and security of supply and
safety.

Background of Smart Grid

The first alternating current power grid system was installed in 1886. At that time, the grid was a
centralized unidirectional system of electric power transmission, electricity distribution, and
demand-driven control.

In the 20th century local grids grew over time, and were eventually interconnected for economic
and reliability reasons. By the 1960s, the electric grids of developed countries had become very
large, mature and highly interconnected, with thousands of 'central' generation power stations.
Through the 1970s to the 1990s, growing demand led to increasing numbers of power stations. In
some areas, supply of electricity, especially at peak times, could not keep up with this demand,
resulting in poor power quality including blackouts, power cuts, and brownouts. Increasingly,
electricity was depended on for industry, heating, communication, lighting, and entertainment,
and consumers demanded ever higher levels of reliability.

Towards the end of the 20th century, electricity demand patterns were established: domestic
heating and air-conditioning led to daily peaks in demand that were met by an array of 'peaking
power generators' that would only be turned on for short periods each day. The relatively low
utilisation of these peaking generators (commonly, gas turbines were used due to their relatively
lower capital cost and faster start-up times), together with the necessary redundancy in the
electricity grid, resulted in high costs to the electricity companies, which were passed on in the
form of increased tariffs. In the 21st century, some developing countries like China, India and
Brazil were seen as pioneers of smart grid deployment.

Advantages of Smart Grid

1. At its simplest, the “smart grid” refers to a more efficient, modernized electrical grid.
2. In each of the countries we profile, the smart grid forms a vital part of government
strategy to achieve the common goals of energy security and low carbon economic
growth.
3. Reduces the cost of black outs
4. Help measure and reduce energy consumption and cost
5. Help buisnesses reduces thier carbon footprints
6. Open us new opertunities for tech companies meaning more job created.

Dis-Advantage of Smart Grid

1.Biggest concern, privacy and security

2.Auto-mated meters can be hacked

3.Hackers gain control of thousand , even millions of meter

4.Increase or decrease the demand of power

5.Not simply a single component

6.Expensive for consumer