Tell Us Your Definition of the Smart Grid?
Please take a minute to give us your definition of the Smart Grid.
At Grid Week two weeks ago in DC, the organizers and presenters studiously avoided defining Smart Grid. But, as Thomas Watson said all those years at IBM, “If it’s not written down, you don’t know it.” Please take the time to comment on this post with your definition of the Smart Grid? And, if possible, reduce it down to 140 characters and broadcast it on Twitter, too?
Written by Steve Collier | Oct 05, 2009
1. Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 08, 2009. |
A smart grid uses embedded sensing, digital processing and communications to become observable, controllable, automated, and integrated. These four characteristics support the three major business function classes of the utility: delivery of reliable, high quality sustainable power, asset management, and consumer/prosumer enablement.
We distinguish among three transformation paths for utilities: improvement of infrastructure (what the Chinese call “strong grid”), integration of digital technology (“smart grid”) and utility business transformation to take advantage of the above (“effective grid”).
As with other businesses, it is the embedding of digital technology that transforms ordinary devices and systems into “smart” devices and systems (think back to smart computer terminals and smart sensors, etc). Smart grid technology is in itself just another big box of technologies, but it is crucial to the enablement of significant new utility capabilities and outcomes. Without the transformation of utility business processes, however, the utility will not realize full benefits from the investment in smart grid technology.
2. Posted by smartgridman on November 16, 2009. |
Thank you for visiting and reading the blog and for your good comments.
I regularly tell my audiences that we will have achieved the best possible smart grid when the electric utility grid operates like the Internet . . . intelligent electronic devices . . . monitor, record, analyze, record, report . . . spread throughout the grid and through the consumers’ premises . . . communicating via two-way, packet switched digital communications . . . operating in conjunction with web-served applications . . . built upon N-tier server based software systems . . . all entirely interoperable just like the Internet.
And, as Bob Galvin and Kurt Yeager suggest, Perfect Power, totally reliable service of the quality expected by the consumer.
Tboughts?