Document Preview: Smart Grids for Smart Cities

2degrees Sustainability Essentials

The 2degrees Sustainability Essentials Series provides the necessary guidance to a range of topics, for sustainability professionals looking for an easy-to-use guide, companies at the start of their sustainability journeys, or for 2degrees members who are new in their roles. Think of it as a short course to sustainability issues. This document highlights what you need to know about smart grids and why theyre important for smart cities.

Contents
Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 The problem with todays electric grid.................................................................................................. 3 Features of a smart grid .............................................................................................................................. 4 Why is a smart grid important to sustainability? ................................................................................. . Why is a smart grid important to homes and businesses? .............................................................. . What are the hurdles to creating a smart grid? ................................................................................... . Whats the next step? .................................................................................................................................... . Beyond the smart grid ................................................................................................................................... . Smart grid case studies ................................................................................................................................. . For more information .................................................................................................................................... .

Updated September 19, 2011

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Document Preview: Smart Grids for Smart Cities

2degrees Sustainability Essentials

Definitions

Demand response: Cutting demand instead of increasing supply. This evens out peaks in demand and does away with the need to bring more power plants on line to meet sudden increases in load. Distributed generation: Sometime referred to as decentralized power, it refers to smaller sources of power generation located closer to consumers rather than the traditional set up of large centralized power plants. Distribution: Medium-voltage distribution lines move power from substations to the customer premise. Generation: The large central and smaller distributed plants that generate electricity. These range from coal and nuclear fuelled power stations to wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays. Grid or electric grid: A generic term for the network of power providers and consumers that are connected by transmission and distribution lines. Kilowatt hours: (KWh): A measure of the amount of electricity generated or used by a utility customer. Load management: The strategies used to reduce or move demand from peak to off-peak periods. Metering: Generally refers to any type of metering system, such as old electromechanical meters, and the advanced two-way smart meters that are replacing them. Microgrid: The community-scale infrastructure built to operate discretely from the national grid during outages and integrate back into it when the power resumes. Renewable energy: Energy from sustainable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, marine and hydro. Smart meter: A utility meter for electricity (or water or gas) that is capable of two-way communication.

Updated September 19, 2011

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Document Preview: Smart Grids for Smart Cities

2degrees Sustainability Essentials

Storage Devices: A general term for a variety of power storage technologies, including batteries, pumped storage, fuel cells and flywheels. Transmission: The term used for the high-voltage power lines which move power from generating plants to substations, where the voltage is stepped down for distribution (see also distribution).

The problem with todays electric grid

In the next three to four decades the world is going to see a surge in the numbers of city dwellers. This mass urbanization offers both opportunities and challenges, one of which is how to meet and manage the demand for electricity. Forward-thinking city leaders are switching on to the idea of the smart grid in a bid to tackle both the growing demand and the environmental issues this presents. Many parallels have been drawn between the internet and the smart grid. Just as the internet revolutionized the way we communicate, so too the smart grid promises to do the same for the way we produce, distribute and use electricity. The worlds current electricity systems face many challenges. Traditionally, electricity has been generated in large central power stations designed to meet the highest level of demand. This electricity is distributed via a complex network of transmission lines or grid - spanning entire countries and sometimes beyond. Over the years as the demand for electricity has grown, so power companies have increased their generating capacity. The grid used to distribute it however has largely stood still, putting it under stress and increasing chance of failure. Its not a problem that is going away. Electricity is the fastest growing component of energy demand according to the International Energy Agencys technology roadmap report, and global electricity use is predicted to soar in coming years with some estimates putting the growth at 150% by 2050. Added to this ageing infrastructure are other problems: the need to integrate increasing amounts of renewable energy, the demand to improve the security of supply, and the call to lower carbon emissions.
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Document Preview: Smart Grids for Smart Cities

2degrees Sustainability Essentials
Smart grid technologies offer a solution. For an insight into the technologies, take a look at this 2degrees webinar on the future of US power distribution: Emerging Smart Grid Technologies.

Features of a smart grid

The vision for a smart grid still includes large central power sources and a national distribution network, however at its heart is the ability to also allow two-way communication. This means the power generators will be able to talk and listen to the devices consuming the electricity, while embedded intelligence such as smart meters, sensors and analytic tools will enable generators and end-users to keep tabs on electricity use within homes and businesses. Added to this is the capacity to integrate smaller energy sources situated closer to the end user, such as renewables, small-scale combined heat and power and energy storage devices. For more on how the smart grid works as an enabling engine for the economy, the environment, and the future take a look at the US Department of Energy report: The Smart Grid: An Introduction.

Updated September 19, 2011

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Document Preview: Smart Grids for Smart Cities

2degrees Sustainability Essentials

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Updated September 19, 2011

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