Cities, as we know them today, consume more than 75% of global energy production, and furthermore, some studies indicate that by the year 2050, 85% of the population will live in them. The question is… Will they be energy-sustainable by then?
Electricity is the most versatile and well-known form of energy. The infrastructure needed to generate, transmit, distribute, and consume electricity It was conceived and designed more than 100 years ago. This infrastructure has served us well and has made a significant contribution to industrialization and economic growth in recent decades. There is hardly any industrial process or application in our personal lives that does not use electricity. Demand for electricity is growing faster than any other form of energy, especially in countries undergoing rapid industrialization, such as China or India. At the same time, the increasing digitization The growth of economies is placing greater demands on the reliability of the electricity supply, meaning that even small, momentary outages can result in enormous economic losses.
Although the growth rate of renewable energy generation is high and projections indicate a gradual increase in that generation, The share of renewable energy in the global energy mix remains very small. Renewable energy, especially that derived from intermittent and variable sources (such as wind and solar), poses additional challenges. Equally important is availability, which highlights the need for energy storage, as well as systems to coordinate available energy generation sources with consumption sinks. To integrate the growing amount of renewable energy generation and, at the same time, significantly improve efficiency throughout the value chain, massive changes are required throughout the entire electric system and in the way it is structured and operated. This future, evolving system has been coined by the term Smart Grid, which provides a solution to the problems raised.
The definition of a Smart Grid can vary depending on where you are in the world. In the United States, for example, the following attributes are commonly cited as necessary for defining a smart grid:
- It must automatically recover after power supply disruptions.
- It must enable consumers to actively participate in response to demand.
- It must operate resiliently against physical and cyberattacks.
- It must provide high-quality energy to meet the needs of the 21st century.
- It must accommodate all generation and storage options.
- It must enable new products, services, and markets.
- You must optimize asset utilization and operational efficiency
According to a report by the European Commission, a smart grid in Europe It is described as a network that is:
- Flexible: It must meet customers' needs while responding to future changes and challenges.
- Accessible: All users must be able to access the grid. In particular, the smart grid must be accessible to renewable energy sources and high-efficiency local generation with zero or low carbon emissions.
- Reliable: This means that the grid is secure and the quality of the power supply is guaranteed. It must be capable of meeting the demands of the digital age and resilient in the face of hazards and uncertainties.
- Economic: The best possible value is achieved through innovation, efficient energy management, and a level playing field in terms of competition and regulation.
On the other hand, China, one of the world's most energy-hungry economies, is also developing the concept of smart grid. According to a memorandum issued by the U.S.-China Joint Clean Energy Cooperation (JUCCCE) in December 2007, «The term »Smart Grid' refers to an electricity transmission and distribution system that incorporates elements of both traditional and cutting-edge power engineering, monitoring technology, and information and communications technology to improve grid performance and support a wide range of additional services for consumers. A Smart Grid is not defined by the technologies it incorporates, but by what it can do.”
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