The Smart Grid enables utilities to distribute both traditional and renewable power to consumers more efficiently, reliably and economically.
The Smart Grid takes advantage of the declining costs in computing and telecommunications to enable more intelligence to be embedded into the power grid. With this new ability to monitor and control the grid, utilities can evolve the grid to:
- Integrate renewable energy
- Improve reliability
- Drive operational efficiencies
- Plan the grid better
- Enable electric vehicles
- Optimize the grid using energy storage
This major transformation of the grid requires innovation and engagement from utilities, industry, government and our communities.
Utilities
Safely integrate renewable energy while improving reliability and reducing costs.
Industry
Improve reliability and power quality while enabling business to reduce power consumption.
government
Enable more renewable energy to meet carbon reduction goals while creating new jobs.
consumers
Enable solar power and electric vehicles while providing control of your utility bills.
“In order to fully capture and integrate new renewable energy sources, it is necessary to invest into the modernization of the Canadian power grid infrastructure. A significant increase in customer-side participation in the energy supplied and demand-side management is contributing to a paradigm shift in the power industry towards a more decentralized energy supply and bidirectional power flows. This is driving the modernization of the grid project known as ‘Smart Grid’.”
Components of a Smart Grid
Advanced Metering
Measure power use, restore power outages faster and enable solar power through net metering.
Distribution Automation
Monitor & control the grid through new smart devices that can self-heal the grid during outages.
Analytics
Load new data from meters & sensors into big data platforms to improve operations & planning.
Demand Response
Instead of generation following demand, enable an optimal grid that manages both in real-time.
Control Systems
Use advanced computing to monitor/control the distribution system and optimize the grid.