By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2009-08-18 05:30
A concept often causing confusion
The 'smart grid' is commonly presented as an indispensable part of the future power system. It is claimed that a true liberalised electricity market with a high penetration of distributed generation will only be able to supply a high degree of power reliability if grids are made smart.
But what exactly is a 'smart grid'? Reading through some literature on the subject, one quickly discovers that it can mean many different things to many different people, often leading discussions to end in confusion.
A smart grid is neither a clearly defined single concept nor a single technology. Rather it is like a basket containing various combinations of balls. The context and the interpretation depend upon the user. Carnegie Mellon University recently published an article describing all of the various balls typically found in this metaphorical basket. Some of them represent innovations that are still in the development phase, while others stand for technologies which have already been applied for years.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Thu, 2007-11-15 08:30
Removing bottlenecks to allow free trade
Enhancing the European transmission grid is important for three closely interwoven reasons:
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To allow power transport to compensate for the intermittent output of renewable energy systems
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To enable free trade in electrical power within the EU
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To ensure a continuous power supply throughout the EU
In spite of the importance of these changes, grid enhancement is progressing very slowly. There are several reasons for this. First, current European regulations do not allow Transmission System Operators to build up the necessary investment capital to undertake large scale infrastructure works. Second, the environmental impact assessments of overhead lines take a great deal of time. The European landscape is already densely built, so it is normal that each new construction project must be thoroughly investigated regarding its necessity.
While many involved parties have recently been urging faster grid enhancement, this does not mean that no progress is being made at all.
New cross-border transmission lines
This month, the new 700 MW subsea interconnector between Norway and the Netherlands will be inaugurated.
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