By Pornphimol Winyuchakrit (Ph.D.)
Sustainable Energy and Low Carbon Research Unit
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University
Why do we need “SMART GRID” technology?
The world’s electricity systems face many challenges, including ageing infrastructure, continued growth of electricity demand, increasing numbers of variable renewable energy and electric vehicles, improving security of supply and reducing carbon emissions. The traditional electric system is characterized by a “unidirectional” energy flow (see Fig. 1). Power plants generate electricity from many resources such as coal, oil, natural gas and renewables. Generated electricity is transmitted to the substations converting high to low voltage, which is suitable for application, and then distributed to the industrial, commercial and residential customers or end-users.
A challenge to reduce carbon emissions is an important driven factor in order to improve the electric grid. Production of more clean energy using renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydro and biomass is increasing. Among them, hydro and biomass are controllable sources, while wind and solar are only partially predictable availability. That makes difficult to balance energy production and consumption in real time. Therefore, the concept of smart grid technology is expected to radically change the customer’s behavior responding to deliver electricity more efficiency and cost-effectively, with lower carbon intensity.
What is “SMART GRID”?
Smart grid enables “bidirectional” flows of energy and uses two-way communication between the generators and consumers (see Fig. 1). The consumers can play a role in power generation, and manage the electricity uses regarding their lifestyle and behavior effectively.
A smart grid is and electricity network that uses to manage the transport of electricity from all generation sources to meet the varying electricity demand of customers. Applications of Information Communication Technology (ICT), sensors, storage system and automatic control technology allow the electricity system recognizing the demand, using to make decision generating electricity automatically. It co-ordinates the needs and capabilities of all generators, grid operators and customers to operate all parts of the system as efficiently as possible, minimizing cost and environmental impacts while maximizing reliability, resilience and stability of the system.
Benefits of using “SMART GRID” in the industry
The customers develop an awareness of electrical using information when smart grid is applied, for example they know amount of electricity consumption from the bill or metering each month, but the installation of smart meter, as Automatic Meter Reading (AMR), can help to monitor their uses in various periods. Analysis of such information can help to improve their usage behavior efficiently either to reduce the peak demand or manage electricity consumption.
Thailand has implemented pilot projects, especially in Pattaya and Mae Hong Son, and definitely developed Thailand Smart Grid Development Master Plan. If the smart grid system is fully developed, we will be able to develop energy efficiency systematically.
1. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “Boosting energy efficiency through smart grids”. Retrieved April 2, 2018, from
https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/4B/01/T4B010000050001PDFE.pdf
2. Energy Policy and Planning Office, Ministry of Energy of Thailand. “Smart grid”. Retrieved April 5, 2018, from
http://www.thai-smartgrid.com/
3. International Energy Agency (IEA). “Technology Roadmap: smart grids”. Retrieved April 2, 2018, from
https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/smartgrids_roadmap.pdf
4. Kensington. “The Architecture of Electricity is Evolving: What does this mean for investors?”. Retrieved April 2, 2018, from
http://www.kcpl.ca/the-architecture-of-electricity-is-evolving-what-does-this-mean-for-investors/
