Smart Grid Technology Improves Energy Efficiency
The Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 Title XIII Provisions
Jun 2, 2009
Updating the current electricity delivery system is one of the goals of the USA's Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Known as smart grid technology, many of these updates include digital technology to improve the security, reliability and efficiency of the system while maintaining affordability.
There are many reasons to update the system, but a great comparison to further the argument is given in the US Department of Energy's (DOE) publication, The Smart Grid: An Introduction. While technology has advanced since the time of Thomas Edison, this key architect of the grid would be totally familiar with the current grid.
Of course, this is a simplification involving only the basic infrastructure. It does highlight the need to modernize system. According to The Smart Grid: An Introduction, demand for electricity has outpaced transmission growth by more than 25 percent since 1982. This has led to black- or brown-out conditions which carry costs of millions and even billions of dollars.
What is Smart Grid Technology?
The smart grid is really a system which implements existing and new technologies to improve transmission efficiency. One major goal is to design the grid to easily accept new power technologies and incorporate them into the grid. This can be something as simple as allowing a residential solar or wind power system to integrate simply and efficiently.
Increasing response time for outage repair and ramp-up during increased demand time improves reliability. There are some areas in the US where outages are still detected by consumer call-in. Software can detect outages and predict demand to help operators and repair personal make decisions and increase the grid's reliability.
Small power generation facilities should be incorporated to decrease transmission distance. This makes the grid more secure by having decentralized generation and increases efficiency through decreased distance.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
The Act (full text available from the Global Legal Information Network) makes it US federal policy to remove barriers and encourage modernization of the US transmission and delivery grid. A Smart Grid Advisory Committee and Smart Grid Task Force are created by the Act to oversee research, development and implementation of smart grid technologies.
These groups would oversee Federal matching grants of up to 20 percent for qualifying smart grid investments. They would also bring together stakeholders in the transmission and delivery sector to remove barriers and encourage transparency in technological innovation.
By providing consumers with real time information regarding electricity usage, and encouraging modernization of the grid, the Act will help bring about a smarter grid in America. In order to keep up with increasing power delivery demand, investments must be made in the aging grid. Implementing existing technologies is a good start towards making the grid more intelligent.
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