The grid of the future will be comprised of advanced hardware, materials and software systems. Right now there are amazing opportunities for scientists and engineers to make a difference in the U.S. and solidify it's energy stability. Over time the electrical power grid has evolved and it will keep moving forward as long as we can break through the market barrier! I agree with Mr. Gentile's comments and presentation. I would like to add to his recommendations.....
- Research undertaken at technological Universities needs to be focused on an end product; rather than just proving a theory without concern for mass production, installation and scalability. Proving theory is needed for advancing technology, but I feel more effort should be made to push the product to market.
- More collaboration between National Labs, Universities and the Power Industry to develop synergistic products to support the Smart Grid
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Great post Jacquelyn! Here's my summary from the session:
ReplyDeleteSpeaker: Thomas Gentile
~100 attendees
Changing Regulatory Landscape
•Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Title XIII
o Responsibility Changes
•American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, 2009
o Infrastructure Change
IEEE-USA National Energy Policy Recommendations
•Smarter Stronger Electric Infrastructure
•Transforming Transportation
•Energy Efficiency
•Greening Power Supply
Changing Consumer Landscape
New end user technology/equipment/appliances
Changing Industry Landscape
5-10% growth per year for next 5 years
What is Smart Grid?
Using advance technology to improve the performance of electricity utility systems to address the needs of society.
Keys to achieving the “Smart Grid”
•Architecture
•Communications
•Technology – Technology Trigger > Peak of Inflated Expectations > Trough of Disillusionment > Slope of Enlightenment > Plateau of Productivity
o Advanced Hardware
o Advanced Software
o Advanced Materials
Market Barriers
•New technology must be proven
•Financial constraints
•Slow moving customers and utility industries
•Regulatory
Road Map needed
Recommendations to IEEE
•Lead development of Road Map and update standards
•Effectuate a cultural change
•Review and Modify IEEE functional structure
•Identify industry experts
•Actively work with federal and state regulators
Jacquelyn and Curtis I liked both of your posts. This was a great presentation so I wanted to add my summary as well.
ReplyDeleteThe “Smart Grid” is a term commonly heard today and “a necessary component in the remaking of America” according to Mr. Thomas Gentile. Extra chairs were needed to accommodate the large crowd who attended Mr. Gentile’s presentation. One definition of the “Smart Grid” provided was the “use of advanced technologies to improve the performance of electric utility systems to address the needs of society.”
Mr. Gentile started by discussing some of the recent legislation and regulatory issues of the “Smart Grid.” The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Title XII) was one of the first legislations that mentioned smart grid technologies. The EISA did include ideas from the IEEE-USA’s national energy policy recommendations. Mr. Gentile believes that organizations such as the IEEE becoming involved with future legislation are essential to the creation of the “Smart Grid”. Recently there has not been a lot of funding available for these technologies. The 2009 stimulus bill has 4.5 billion dollars allocated to modernize the nation’s electrical grid with smart technology as well as many other incentives and allocations for smart technologies and renewable generation.
Mr. Gentile believes there are three key components to achieving a “Smart Grid”: Architecture, Communications, and Technology. The grid architecture must be planned and setup in a way that components can be plug and play. The architecture must also allow for efficient and economical development of new applications. The communications of the “Smart Grid” must allow for effective two-way communications across all parts of the national grid. This requires the communications network to be able to handle large amounts of data points. The final component, technology, must be cost effective, innovate, interchangeable, and reliable.
There are a few market barriers currently holding back the development of the “Smart Grid.” New technologies must be proved before they are accepted on a large scale. One of example of this is high temperature conductors. While this technology has been developed for some time, utilities are just starting to utilize these conductors. The technology required for the “Smart Grid” is expensive to develop and implement creating financial constraints. The 2009 stimulus may help overcome some of the financial constraints. The consumer and utility industry were described as slow-moving because they are slow to accept and implement technologies such as advanced metering technologies and other advanced hardware technologies
Mr. Gentile concluded with five recommendations that the IEEE needs to aid the development of the “Smart Grid”:
1. Actively lead the development of a Road map to identify new and updates of existing standards affecting “Smart Grid”
2. Actively work to effectuate a culture change in modernize and strengthen the electric grid today
3. Review and modify, if appropriate, IEEE’s functional structure in light of the need to remake America
4. Identify industry experts who can lead and respond to technical concerns affecting “Smart Grid”
5. Actively work with federal and state regulators to develop and promote “Smart Grid” legislation