Smart Grid Awareness Film
A short film was developed on "Smart Grid and its Transformative Impact on Utility Operations and Customer Energy Empowerment". Click here to view the film
Definition
Smart Grid is an Electrical Grid with Automation, Communication and IT systems that can monitor power flows from points of generation to points of consumption (even down to appliances level) and control the power flow or curtail the load to match generation in real time or near real time. Smart Grids can be achieved by implementing efficient transmission & distribution systems, system operations, consumer integration and renewable integration. Smart grid solutions helps to monitor, measure and control power flows in real time that can contribute to identification of losses and thereby appropriate technical and managerial actions can be taken to arrest the losses.
Smart grid solutions can contribute to reduction of T&D losses, Peak load management, improved quality of Service, increased reliability, better asset management, renewable integration, better accessibility to electricity etc. and also lead to self-healing grids.
Vision for India
Transform the Indian power sector in to a secure, adaptive, sustainable and digitally enabled ecosystem that provides reliable and quality energy for all with active participation of stakeholders.
Features of Smart Grid
Smart grid has several positive features that give direct benefit to consumers:
- Real time monitoring.
- Automated outage management and faster restoration.
- Dynamic pricing mechanisms.
- Incentivize consumers to alter usage during different times of day based on pricing signals.
- Better energy management.
- In-house displays.
- Web portals and mobile apps.
- Track and manage energy usage.
- Opportunities to reduce and conserve electricity etc.
Smart Grid will also facilitate distributed generation, especially the roof top solar generation, by allowing movement and measurement of energy in both directions using control systems and net metering that will help “prosumers” i.e. the consumers who both produce and consume electricity, to safely connect to the grid.
Benefits of Smart Grid Deployments
Several groups of the society are provided with multiple benefits through the Smart Grid implementations. Such include utility, customers and the regulators while some of the benefits include:
- Reduction of T&D losses.
- Peak load management, improved QoS and reliability.
- Reduction in power purchase cost.
- Better asset management.
- Increased grid visibility and self-healing grids.
- Renewable integration and accessibility to electricity.
- Increased options such as ToU tariff, DR programs, net metering.
- Satisfied customers and financially sound utilities etc.
