According to the blueprint outlined by IBM, power users can choose and determine more efficient ways of using electricity when the smart grid is built. Power companies can decide how to better manage power and balance loads; Government and society can use it to better protect our environment. In a word, smart grid can improve the efficiency of the whole system and make it more intelligent.
Four features highlight intelligence.
So where is the smart grid "smart"? This can be from four main features of the smart grid to understand: network self-healing ability, can prompt the user to participate in the operation and management of power grid, have the ability to resist attacks, can provide different access in the form of electricity.
"Self-healing" is the most important features of the smart grid, refers to the power grid has a problem of components are isolated from the system and in the case of little or no human intervention can make rapid return to normal operation of the system, thus almost uninterrupted power supply service to the user. In essence, self-healing is the "immune system" of the smart grid.
In the smart grid, users will be an integral part of the power system, and it is another important feature of smart grid to encourage and promote users to participate in the operation and management of power system. This helps to balance supply and demand and ensure the reliability of the system; By participating in the operation and management of the power grid, users can modify the way they use and purchase power, and obtain tangible benefits.
At the same time, the smart grid will be able to resist attacks, can withstand attacks on parts of the power system and multiple coordinated attacks for a period of time, reduce the vulnerability of physical attacks and attacks of power grids and quickly recover from power outage.
The smart grid will provide power quality that meets the needs of users in the 21st century, reducing power quality events from transmission and distribution systems. The smart grid will allow for a safe and seamless access system for different types of power generation and energy storage systems, simplifying the process of networking, similar to "plug and play". Different capacity of power generation and energy storage in all voltage level can be interconnected, including distributed power supply, such as photovoltaic, wind power, advanced battery systems, namely plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell. This reduces dependence on external sources of energy, and on the other hand increases the reliability and quality of power, especially in response to wars and terrorist attacks.
In addition, smart grid will enable the power market to flourish, optimize its asset application and make the operation more efficient.
Five technologies provide support.
Technically, a smart grid is based on the physical power grid, the modern advanced sensing measurement technology, communication technology, information technology, computer technology and control technology and physical grid highly integrated to form a new type of power grid. The core of the smart grid is to realize the power grid of informatization, digitization, automation and interaction, communication, measurement, equipment, control of five aspects, such as, support technology will provide technical powerful support for the establishment of the smart grid.
Building a high-speed, two-way communication system is the first step toward a smart grid. This is the basis of the smart grid, without high-speed, two-way, real-time, integrated communication systems, and the features of any smart grid will not be realized.
Parameter measurement is the basic component of smart grid. Advanced technology and the number of test for data and convert it into data information, for all aspects of the smart grid is used, so as to assess the integrity of the power grid equipment health status and power grid and communicate with users.
Equipment in the future of the smart grid will be fully used in materials, superconducting power electronics and microelectronics technology, energy storage, the latest research results, thus improve the power density, power supply reliability and power quality, and efficiency of electric power production.
Advanced control technology means that the smart grid will provide control methods for transmission, distribution and user side and can manage the active and reactive power of the entire grid.
And decision support technology is the complex power system data into understandable information system operating personnel be clear at a glance, including animation technology, dynamic shading technology, virtual reality technology, as well as other data show.
Rapid development
Despite the widespread spread of Mr Obama, the granddaddy of the smart grid is not American. The winter of 2005, Canadian Mark Campbell (Mark Kerbel) developed a wireless controller, the device connected to the building of various electrical appliances, so as to realize the effective control of these appliances.
Campbell's technology is actually the prototype of the current hot "smart grid", a technology that gives electrical intelligence and energy efficiency. Campbell's original intention was to save energy, and he never thought that his casual thought would revolutionize the information society.
In 2006, IBM developed a "smart grid" solution in collaboration with global power research institutes and power companies. IBM calls the smart grid "grid 2.0," an image of the "central nervous system" of power systems, marking the formal birth of the smart grid concept.
Two years later, the americans are in Boulder, Colorado (Boulder) shows a picture of a beautiful scene in the smart grid - each family to install smart meters, people can intuitive understanding of the price of each moment, in order to put something to use high-power electrical appliances, such as washing, ironing, electric heaters, and other arrangements in electricity price low period; Electricity meters can also help people prioritize clean energy such as wind and solar power. At the same time, substations can collect electricity for each household and redeploy them when problems arise. After Obama took office, the White House's latest the recovery plan dimensions report announced that will be laid or update the 3000 miles of power lines, and install smart meters in 40 million the American family - the United States will promote the whole revolution of interactive grid. Subsequently, countries around the world began to formulate relevant policies and standards and issued specific implementation plans.
At the beginning of this year, state grid corporation formulated the opinions on accelerating the construction of a strong smart grid, and determined the basic principles and overall objectives of building a strong smart grid. The smart grid was then written to the government work report.
On July 26, 2010, China's national energy administration, said chief engineer Wu Guihui is compiled by the energy industry "twelfth five-year" plan, the development of smart grid, as an important content.
