Enabling New Energy
The convergence of forces in clean energy policy, utility regulations, energy markets, and technology is transforming the electricity landscape and driving advancement of the country's Electricity Grid to a "Smart grid" – a tightly integrated, information-based, and highly adaptive system.
The smart grid is a complex network of hardware, software and operators that has the potential to fundamentally change the way in which electricity is delivered and consumed. The basic concept of the smart grid is to integrate technologies that enable enhanced monitoring, analysis, control and communication capabilities into the aging national electrical delivery system. The term “smart grid” is not meant to describe a single system, but rather serve as an umbrella to capture many different manifestations of an advanced power grid. Most stakeholders agree with the following seven characteristics of an advanced power grid developed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory:
1. Self-heals
2. Motivates and includes the consumer
3. Resists attack
4. Provides power quality for 21st century needs
5. Accommodates all generation and storage options
6. Enables markets
7. Optimizes assets and operates efficiently