The Development of Smart Grids

Publication Date	February 2009
Publisher	Datamonitor
Product Type	Report
Pages	14
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	DAT14467

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Summary

Introduction
Smart metering offers electricity distribution companies an opportunity to revolutionise the way that energy demand is managed. With this metering and switching technology embedded in the network at a low level, monitoring, maintenance and potentially overall capacity of the network stand to benefit as improved management allows it to respond to the increasing demands placed upon it.

Scope

understanding of the coming challenges facing distribution network operators as energy usage changes

insight into how smart metering will allow greater management of existing distribution networks, increasing their capabilities

visibility of the complexities micro-generation and distributed demand management will place on the distribution networks

overview of how Smart metering can be used for more than just domestic demand management, making existing networks work smarter, not harder

Highlights

The European Technology Platform aims to have Smart distribution and transmission networks in place throughout Europe by 2020, which will revolutionize the way power systems are monitored and managed.

Smart metering technology advanced will help distribution and transmission companies face the challenges of the ever changing nature of demand and supply, with shifts from centralized generation and greater reliances of consumers on power

Efficiency savings through the introduction of smart grids will generate significant financial rewards, though the environmental benefits will be even greater, with optimisation of green generation assets and reduction of tranmission and distribution losses.

Reasons to Purchase

Understand at a high level the difficulties facing distribution networks with capacity constraints and demand management

learn how the development of smart metering can help energy companies face the environmental challenges of the future

gain insight into the increasingly sophisticated techniques available to distribution and tranmission networks to manage and maintain their assets

Content

DATAMONITOR VIEW
CATALYST
SUMMARY
ANALYSIS
- Existing distribution networks were constructed in the early 1900s but modern reliance on energy has changed the nature of demand
- Electricity distribution networks have largely grown organically to accommodate rising demand for power
- The electricity grid needs to cope both with both sustained use, and high capacity loads
- With developments in technology and economic changes, demand patterns have changed
- Physically increasing the capacity of a distribution network would require expensive investment in assets
- Changes to generation strategies lead to further distribution complications
- While AC transmission is ideal for centralized generation capacity, environmental concerns encourage more localized generation
- Wind generation and other green solutions may provide fluctuating supply, which needs to be balanced
- Distributed generation raises power balancing difficulties, and also safety implications
- The smart grid concept offers a potential solution to the challenges of the future
- The smart grid increases the level of micromanagement of existing distribution networks
- Greater capacity may become available if the network can be managed differently
- Automated solutions could rapidly and effectively respond to changes in supply and demand
- Greater granularity in real time network monitoring can help detect faults and ease maintenance
- Optimization of green generation assets can reduce environmental impact
APPENDIX
- Ask the analyst
- Datamonitor consulting
- Disclaimer
List of Figures
- Figure 1: Centralized generation output travels first by the transmission network, then by distribution grid
- Figure 2: Though overall power use in a given time period may be the same, consumption patterns may differ greatly
- Figure 3: Wind speeds vary considerably with geographic region and time over Europe
- Figure 4: Micro-generation causes power to flow both on and off the distribution network
- Figure 5: Schematic distribution network with centralized generation, variable generation and demand
- Figure 6: The Smart Grid offers a greater degree of flexibility than existing distribution networks
- Figure 7: While areas of a network can be isolated already, the smart grid will allow more precise control
- Figure 8: Wind farms are distributed more widely than traditional generation forms