The smart grid is on its way. The hype associated with its planned arrival should, however, be a surprise to no one, given the following facts related to the power grid in the U.S.:

• Several billion smart grid stimulus dollars have been injected into the U.S. economy
• The U.S. is wedded to non-renewable energy from foreign countries
• The U.S. power grid is antiquated and increasingly unreliable and inefficient
• There’s rapidly growing interest in the use of renewable energy
• There’s an  development of “smarter” technologies and tools
• There’s a multitude of diverse entities with varying interests in a smart grid

Given the above, plus a healthy dose of speculation over the past couple of years, it’s worthwhile for us to take the time to step back from all of the excitement and publicity so we can better determine what’s truly going on in the development of the smart grid.

Summarized below are a few of our initial observations.

Making the Grid “Smart”

In the U.S., the words “high tech” are used to promote or sell just about anything.

However, much of the technology anticipated for the smart grid, especially during its adolescent stages, will likely be low tech. As such, there are those who might object to referring to the planned upgrades to the existing power grid as “smart.”

On the other hand, the introduction of modern technology into a power grid that’s  evolved from components over a century old will require some real intelligence of the human kind. With low tech components smartly located and utilized, the smart grid will eventually have the opportunity to live up to its name, as high tech and renewable energy are brought on board.

To help us unravel the truth of the developing smart grid, let’s first address several fundamental questions.

What is the existing Power Grid?

On one end of the power grid is a power plant that converts energy of some form into  electricity. We’ll call this end “Point A.”

On the other end of the power grid are the homes and businesses that consume that electricity and any local power generators, like solar panels and windmills. We’ll call this end “Point B.” In times past, Point B was reserved exclusively for the utility and it’s crown jewel – the power meter. But as consumers are given increasing roles both as electricity generators and as energy managers this will no doubt change. The grid will be expanded to include consumers and power plants alike. Examples include micro power grids, where individuals or businesses generate energy and then make some portion of that energy available to the public power grid.

As new technologies and networks come on line, such as those associated with the smart grid, Point A and Point B may change and grow to accommodate resources and services desired by consumers and producers alike. To learn more about the electric power grid, you should review our post on primers.

What will the Smart Grid be?

The reality is that there’s no single definition for the smart grid.

This is true primarily because the electric grid itself is composed of a diverse group of entities, each of which have their own perspective of what the grid should be and their own interests to preserve.

Let’s take a look at what the U.S. government thinks the smart grid will be like, here is the Department of Energy’s definition for what they call “Grid 2030″:

“The construction of a 21st century electric system that connects everyone to abundant, affordable, clean, efficient, and reliable electric power anytime, anywhere. We can achieve this through a smart grid, which would integrate advanced functions into the nation’s electric grid to enhance reliability, efficiency, and security, and would also contribute to the climate change strategic goal of reducing carbon emissions. These advancements will be achieved by modernizing the electric grid with information-age technologies, such as microprocessors, communications, advanced computing, and information technologies.”

Nice words. Let’s probe a little deeper.

Why Do We Need a Smart Grid?

We can summarize the major purpose of the smart grid in one word: sustainability.

There are three fundamental things that are necessary to achieving a sustainable power grid. We need to:

• improve energy efficiency
• increase reliability
• enhance the ability to use more renewable energy

Some of the primary features desired by various stakeholders – which include utilities, technology providers and consumers – as determined by NETL are:

• self-healing from power disturbance events
• enabling active participation by consumers in demand response
• operating resiliently against physical and cyber attack
• providing power quality for 21st century needs
• accommodating all generation and storage options
• enabling new products, services, and markets
• optimizing assets and operating efficiently

Impressive lists.

What’s It Going to Look Like?

As to its appearance, the smart grid will look less like a final product and more like a developing set of solutions to a variety of needs and interests.

Plans for a smart grid in the U.S. were kicked off last year to the tune of 3.4 billion dollars. An additional $4.7 billion in funding is being provided by other public and private sources.

You can review a copy of the plans for what the smart grid will look like according to the DOE.

But there are plans by others for various possible additions or modifications to those being proposed by the government, such as plans for integrating technologies now in research and development into the smart grid of the future, especially those that would support the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as part of the power grid, at both the local and wider levels.

One perspective of what the smart grid may look like is given in the figure below.

Where is the Money Going?

Listed below is how the DOE has categorized and allocated the $3.4 billion in funding for the smart grid:

• $1 billion for empowering consumers to save energy and utility bills
• $250 million for making electricity distribution more efficient
• $150 million for making electricity transmission more efficient
• $2 billion for integrating and crosscutting across different smart grid components
• $25 million for assistance in building a smart grid manufacturing industry in the U.S.

This funding, along with the $4.7 billion from other sources, does not constitute all of the necessary funding. It does provide the following, however:

• over 1 million smart meters, smart thermostats and load management devices – to enable consumers to reduce energy use
• 200,000 advanced transformers – to help reduce outages
• 700 automated substation systems – to restore service more quickly when outages occur
• 850 transmission system sensors – to monitor and manage existing and new energy sources

When Will the Smart Grid Be Finished?

No one knows with certainty how long it will take for the smart grid to become a reality in the U.S. After all, it is not yet fully defined or specified. One estimate, from NIST has completion of the smart grid to be 10 to 15 years. Others have schedules extending to 2030, and beyond.

It’s possible that these time horizons won’t matter so much in the end, because the smart grid will likely remain a perpetual work in progress. Technologies, services, customer needs, as well as government programs and resources, will all continue to change. Each of these factors will impact schedules, expectations, and possibilities.

As a side note, our local electrical cooperative company has been providing us for the past 25 years with one feature planned for the smart grid of the future. FM-controlled receivers connected to our air conditioner and water heater provide controllers at the cooperative with the ability to remotely turn off these appliances for short periods during peak demand. The receivers and their installation cost us nothing. Because of the local pricing structure for electrical energy, the cooperative selective use of these devices reduce our electrical bill. Not only that, should there be a problem with either of the appliances, the cooperative will send a technician to our home to inspect the appliances for free. And, in the case of the water heater, they will replace the heating element and thermostat if needed – all at no charge.

So, part of what some will be receiving from the smart grid  of tomorrow have already been available to others for decades.

What are Some of the Roadblocks?

Besides time and resources, several significant issues need to be addressed and resolved with regard to the smart grid. These include:

• standards that will support the seamless networking of all grid components
• the pricing of electricity in a way that allows customers to reduce their costs
• ways to monitor and manage grid components remotely to improve reliability
• the ability to provide consumers with privacy
• methods to maintain security of vulnerable grid components and interconnections
• allowances for both centralized and decentralized systems for generating and distributing certain forms of energy (such as wind and solar)
• determining what existing technologies to use and what new technologies may be needed
• how to distribute the “intelligence” capabilities throughout the grid
• how to protect against direct attacks on critical grid components

The above list does not address all issues of course. But I think it represents a good start.

So, hopefully, this article has served to unravel at least some of the smart grid hype. As the power grid of the future begins to take shape, I and the rest of the GridWatch staff look forward to reporting on all of the important technologies, events and issues involved.

We take it for granted although we use it everyday. But very few people know much about it.

The power grid affects us all, no matter where we live or what we do. Even those who are living “off the grid” rely in some way on the grid for at least some of their resources, tools, equipment, or other materials they use, whether indirectly or not.

Nevertheless, although the power grid plays a significant role in our lives, the subject admittedly is not one that keeps us up late at night turning the pages to see how the story ends.

However, given the rapidly expanding interest in everything from renewable and cleaner forms of energy, to smarter ways to manage the grid and minimize costs, to new business opportunities and technological innovations associated with power generation and distribution, we think there is every reason to believe that the power grid is quickly ascending in both popularity and criticality.

A primary part of our mission here at GridWatch is to provide resources and information to help people connect with and learn more about something that is destined to play an increasingly important role in their lives.

Most of us are familiar with the phrase: “knowledge is power.” Through the various introductions to the grid mentioned below, one of our primary aims in putting this list together has been to provide readers with resources that can lead them to greater knowledge about power, the power of the grid.

So, on with our favorites. And, if you have some others of your own that you think others should know about, please let us know.

1. U.S. Department of Energy: “The Electricity Grid System”

A simple, helpful 6-page introduction to the power grid. Although the primary focus is on transmission and distribution, the drawings and charts provide a very accessible resource that will benefit anyone new to the power grid. A good place to start, this resource is associated with DOE’s GridWorks Website. Access it here.

2. How Stuff Works: “The U.S. Power Grid Explained”

Another introductory multi-part article, including a short video to help the neophyte learn how the power grid works, from the power plant to the house. Also includes links to articles designed to help you learn how such things as batteries and solar cells work. Instructive and comprehensive. Get to it here.

3. University of Illinois: “TCIP Education: The Power Grid”

Here is an interesting series of interactive applets on power, energy, the power grid, power economics and emissions, and wind and storage. In addition to the applets, each of these includes tutorials, a quick start guide, as well as a set of lessons with questions beneficial to beginners. Interesting and productive concept. Begin here.

Note: we’ve tested these applets on several different browsers and Internet Explorer appears to be the only one that can run them.

4. NPR Series: “Power Hungry: Reinventing the U.S. Grid”

Last year (2009) National Public Radio held a series of programs on the U.S. power grid. For now, the audios and summary texts for the series are still available and well worth your time. A large array of topics and viewpoints are addressed, from the existing and aging infrastructure of the electrical power grid, the promise of renewable and cleaner energy sources, new technologies to help manage changes on the way, as well as training and career opportunities. Some of the costs and potential problems of various approaches to “reinventing” the grid are also discussed. Check it out here.

5. American Progress: “Wired for Progress 2.0″

One of the subjects addressed by the Center for American Progress is that of developing the clean-energy smart power grid of the future. Among several reports available on its Website related to this is the one entitled “Wired for Progress 2.0″, as a very accessible yet moderately comprehensive resource that does an admirable job of defining and addressing several important and difficult issues related to a complex subject. Be sure to check out their other resources as well. This one is here.

6. U.S. Department of Energy: “GridWorks Multi-Year Plan”

A significant extension to the early 6-page introduction mentioned earlier, this 38-page document provides a plan for the future U.S. Power grid through 2025. As with the publication by the Center for American Progress, this one by the Department of Energy is worth a review as well, especially for the purpose of gaining insight into DOE’s plan. Find it here.

7. U.S. Department of Energy: “A Primer on Electric Utilities, Deregulation, and Restructuring of U.S. Electricity Markets”

Although a little dated and slower going, the primer nevertheless provides a good in-depth look at our power grid, electric utilities and various associated power markets. Most useful as a reference work. You can locate it here.

8. National Council on Electricity Policy – “Electricity Transmission: A Primer”

Similar in its technical level and content to DOE’s primer on electric utilities, this primer is worthy for review and reference, especially for gaining a better understanding of the electrical transmission network in the U.S. Get a copy here.

Honorable Mentions

1. National Power Grid Simulation Workshop: “National Power Grid Simulation Capability“
2. The Edison Foundation: “Transforming America’s Power Industry“
3. U.S. Department of Energy: “The Smart Grid: An Introduction“

Developments regarding the future smart grid in the U.S. are expanding rapidly. We believe that any plans for the future grid, if it’s worthy of being called “smart,” should integrate micro power grids into the equation.

There are relatively few who are aware of micro power grids and their growing importance in meeting our energy needs. This GridWatch Spotlight is intended to increase the awareness of this exciting and important element in the power grid of the future.

What are Micro Power Grids?

Micro power grids involve the concept of microgeneration, which refers to the small-to-medium scale generation of power (usually heat or electrical) especially through the use of low-carbon and renewable energy sources and technologies, to meet the needs of users, including individuals, businesses, schools, hospitals, or even small communities.

Although micro power grids may imply the concept of the distribution of power over a network, there is no reason to exclude the individual home or business as a very localized network and, thus, a micro grid.

The Future is Now

In 2009, over 100 companies were collectively provided about $8 billion to develop a new, smart national power grid system for the U.S. While the current grid is largely centralized, the expectation is that micro grids will become fully integrated into the larger grid network.

Locally-generated power on a small scale is nothing new. Individuals and businesses have been implementing solutions to meet their own energy needs at the local level for years. Micro grid technology isn’t futuristic. It exists today. On the rooftops of houses and other buildings, and as part small communities around the nation.

Since the 1970s, homeowners have increasingly sought to generate part or all of their electrical power and heating needs. The “back-to-the-land” era was a part of the trend. During the past few years, many businesses and a few small communities have been converting to alternative local power systems, in some cases as small networks of self-generating power systems.

Such micro grids have saved consumers money, supported the use of renewable and cleaner energy, and achieved some measure of independence from outside energy supplies. On a national scale, isn’t this precisely what many in the U.S. have been claiming is needed, especially with respect to oil?

Fortunately, it does appear that at least some of the nation’s energy planners and policy makers have started to pay attention to the off-grid and micro grid communities. Recently, one Senator recently introduced a bill in Congress:

“To increase the quantity of solar photovoltaic electricity by providing rebates for the purchase and installation of an additional 10,000,000 solar roofs and additional solar water heating systems with a cumulative capacity of 10,000,000 gallons by 2019.”

Technologies for Micro Grids

The technologies commonly employed in micro power grids come in a variety of forms.  These include solar photovoltaic and heating systems, wind and water mills, fuel cells, biomass, combined heat and power (CHP) systems, and others.

For example:

• Photovoltaics convert sunlight into electricity. Best where electricity use matches the times of sunshine or where a local supply of electricity is not readily available.
• Wind turbines convert wind into electricity. Best in places with a relatively constant and sufficient wind supply. The electricity generated is dependent on the wind, which may not be sufficient for a given business or network. Match the electricity demand profile of your building. The electricity generated by a wind turbine generally increases with wind speed, size of the blades, height above the ground, and distance from other structures.
• CHP units capture heat from systems that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels. Although CHP systems burn fuel and release carbon dioxide, their efficiency can ultimately help reduce greenhouse gases in comparison with distant fossil-fuel-powered electricity generation that typically wastes the heat produced as a byproduct, not to mention the electrical energy lost through the transmission network. CHP is particularly useful where the additional heat as a byproduct can be usefully applied. This can be difficult during hot weather.
• Burning biomass. Although this process does not consume fossil fuels, it does release carbon dioxide. Biomass boilers typically require significant space and frequent maintenance. They require ample time to heat up and cool down. Best when there is a plentiful supply of fuel.
• Solar water heating is used to pre-heat water prior to being heated to higher, necessary levels. Most effective during times of sunshine since it can be difficult to store heat over long periods of time.
• Ground Source Heat Pumps are able to generate several times as much heat as the electrical energy required to operate them. A ground source heat pump extracts heat out of the ground by circulating water through pipes located in the ground.

Going Local

In contrast to the centralized structure of the national power grid system, micro power grids are based on the concept of local. There are some who argue that a sustainable power grid must be decentralized. When applied to the power grid, sustainable solutions will require that we address economy, ecology and energy on a local scale, important issues that have been relatively unknown to many in the U.S. today.

This self-generated energy is typically connected to the local electrical utility grid so that any surplus power is fed back into the grid and credited against the user’s account for use at a later time, and at the same time, capturing much of the heat otherwise wasted at a grid’s centralized power plant. When multiple numbers of these self-generation systems are put together in a network, then a micro-grid is created, thereby eliminating dependency on the ever-increasing costs and unreliability of grid power and replacing it with electricity and heat produced on-site at a home, business, school, hospital or any other building in the network.

Micro Grid Advantages

Micro grids provide a number of important advantages over large-scale centralized approaches to power generation and distribution. Here are a few examples:

• less expensive to operate
• energy is distributed more efficiently (no energy loss due to transmission)
• typically uses renewable, cleaner energy
• supports the concerns, interests and businesses of the local community
• better able to manage local power loads and requirements
• reliability is typically higher
• can be used as a backup (for both the micro power generator and the larger network) when the larger grid fails

The Status of Micro Power Grids in the U.S.

While energy policies and laws differ from state to state, some power companies will pay part of the cost of micro power grids in the areas they serve. A good summary of financial incentive programs for individual and businesses regarding the use of renewable energy is provided here.

In addition, some countries, including the U.S., already have laws that allow the selling of electricity from micro power grids to the national grid. So, while there is significant room for improving government support for micro power grids, there is some indication that progress is being made.

Here at GridWatch, we will be keeping an eye on micro power grids and their integration into the smart grid of the future, and reporting on it as it develops.

Here’s a question. The last time you flipped on a light switch, were you thinking about what was going on behind the scenes? You flipped the switch and, presto, electrons flowed to the bulb, energy was converted, light flooded the room, and you went about your daily business.

On a certain day, not too long ago, the mere flipping of a light switch produced no outcome at all. The day is August 26 and the year is 2003. You’re traveling to Buffalo, NY on business. Your flight landed in BNIA at 8 pm and you notice that it’s unusually hot and muggy. You find your hotel room, walk in, and find yourself in need of turning on a light. You reach for the light switch, flip it on and … and … nothing. No light. No magical conversion of electrical energy into light.

You try the switch a couple more times thinking that endless repetition will somehow bring the light back to life. Still nothing. At first you suspect the bulb is bad. You mutter something about how bulbs just don’t last as long as they used to. You walk into another room to try the switch to another light. The fingers do the flipping – and nothing. No light. The simple action of a light switch has now become the bane of your existence.

It’s not until a short time later that you discover you’ve become part of a cast of about 50 million people who are in precisely the same predicament as you. No power. Thanks to a sudden spike of electricity in northern Ohio, blackouts have swept across the north eastern U.S.

Did I mention that it’s August? I think I did. No fans blowing, no air conditioners cooling, no elevators running, no gas pumps pumping, no street lights working, no subways moving, no freezers freezing. No life-saving equipment in hospitals. And worse. There’s a word for it – chaos. But this isn’t a movie or reality show. It’s reality. And, at the end of the day, the real impact will have been nearly $10 billion in economic losses, with unknown impact to the lives of millions.

Approximately 34,000 miles of transmission lines were taken out of service. That’s about 1/5 of all lines in the U.S. All told, 531 power generators capable of providing 35 GigaWatts of power were also lost during that time.

 

Areas in red were affected by blackouts in 2003.

A few improvements to the power grid did ultimately take place after the Blackout of 2003. That is, once all the political posturing and finger pointing subsided.

On the one hand, it was unfortunate that it took such a disaster to motivate those in authority to come to an agreement on the needed improvements to the power grid. On the other hand, it was fortunate that the impact of this particular blackout was not worse.

Even with the changes made at the time, such blackouts could happen again. In fact, several power blackouts (in addition to the more numerous brownouts) have occurred since 2003 in various parts of the country. The cost for all these disruptions is no small potatoes either. For example, the EPRI estimates that such interruptions and fluctuations to our power grid have resulted in over $100 billion in damages and lost business … every year!

These disruptions in our power grid, such as the one in 2003, are telling us something. They’re warning of our need to develop and implement more reliable and lasting solutions to what are real and critical weaknesses. So, the next time you go to turn the light switch on, think about how you might become part of the solution to a growing problem, or how you might motivate others to do so. Then, go ahead and enjoy the gift of light.

Back to the Original Question?

Before we provide our answer, let us first be sure to acknowledge that the majority of folks who maintain the existing power grid deserve our most sincere gratitude. Most do a remarkably good job, especially given the antiquated power systems and old tech tools with which they are often constrained to work.

So, what is “the most amazing thing about the power grid”?

It’s that, given all of its deficiencies, it works as well as it does. That’s pretty amazing, don’t you think?

Additional notes:

• TCIP: Trustworthy CyberInfrastructure for the Power Grid (PDF)

As a visitor to a website called GridWatch, chances are relatively good that you likely already know more about energy and the power grid than most, or that you at least have an interest in learning more. On the other hand, it may be that you arrived here by mistake in your search for something completely unrelated to subjects covered here.

All the above situations would be perfectly acceptable of course.

In fact, given the increasing ubiquity of electrical power and its growing impact on every facet of our lives, there is also an increasing need that we all become better informed about energy and the power grid. The information here may help us all become smarter consumers and citizens.

An Online Resource and Watchful Eye

With the above in mind, we have developed GridWatch to provide individuals and businesses with cool tools and practical information that will help you make decisions regarding energy and the power grid.

With a focus on the electric power gird, our mission of “connecting the energy dots” also includes keeping readers up-to-date on the latest happenings, topics, issues and opportunities related to the broader energy spectrum as well.

Because of the many varied and complex matters and interests associated with the power grid, keeping ones head above the maze can be somewhat difficult, even intimidating. After all, the grid is complex. And people are complex.

To Visualize and To Filter, That is the Answer

To better filter, analyze, manage and consume what we need to know from the vast information jungle out there, we plan to make use of a number of tools and resources.

One such tool is our very own GridMap, a handy mapping device we developed to help users quickly and simply determine the types and sizes of power plants around them.

Another resource we’ve pulled together, to provide you with up-to-the-minute grid-related news and comments from around the world, is GridNews. 
In addition to enhancing these resources, several other tools and features are in development as well.

Let the Grid Watching Begin

Be sure to plug into GridWatch for insight, news, and events on alternative power, the smart grid, energy and building efficiency, grid security and reliability. We also plan to keep readers up to date on a host of other hot topics, such as local and homegrown power, super capacitors for storage, offshore wind farms, investing and business opportunities, and beyond.

Content in planning includes an exciting and vast array of fresh material on everything related to the power grid of today and tomorrow, and beyond. We will look at:

1. the sources of energy that feed it, the ingenuity that converts and transports it
2. the technology and tools that enhance and manage it
3. the innovations that will enable the grid and make it more secure
4. the imaginations that will comprehend and express it. And, with all this, we are just warming up!

As we continue to expand and develop this site, if there is some feature that you would like to see added or improved on, we’d be interested in your suggestions. If you have an idea for articles or material you think you might like to contribute for the benefit of readers, please let us know.

In the meantime, we trust you will discover much to enjoy here, and that you’ll be sure to make it a habit of checking back often.