• Imraan Mohamed
• Regional Marketing Director ,
Sub Saharan Africa
• Itron
• South Africa
Technology Trends that
are Transforming Smart
Grid Strategy
CONTENTS
• Why Smart Grids?
• Smart Grid Strategies (Developing Regions)
• Smart Grid Technologies
• Technology Maturity Levels
• Technology Trend Example: Last Mile
Communication Network Technology
• Summary of Key Takeaways
• Conclusion
The Challenging World of Energy We are in the midst of a Global Energy Transformation
» Renewables increase
» Emergence of storage
» Decentralization of energy
» De-carbonization incentives
» Shale gas and shoal oil increase
» New business models and new entrants
» New emerging and converging technologies
» Utility balance sheets under pressure
» New competition, even from consumers!
Decreasing Utility Prices, wholesales trending to zero or negative
Increasing End Consumer Prices
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE CHANGING
“Smartening” the Grid is not a Single Project, Event or
technology
* Source: IEA 2011
WHY SMART GRIDS?
• Accommodates various generation and storage options
• Provides the power quality for the range of needs
• Optimises asset utilisation and operating efficiency
• Provides resiliency to disturbances, attacks and natural disasters
• Enables informed participation by end customers
• Enables new products, services and markets
SMART GRID STRATEGIES • Countries/Regions will choose their own strategies
and priorities for adopting smart grid technologies.
• Characteristics to consider in any regional
assessment: – Current and planned mix of supply, including fossil, nuclear and
renewable generation.
– Current and future demand; the sector contribution to demand;
Sectors -> large industries, commercial and manufacturing industry,
residential load prevalence and sub segments, or the deployment of
electric vehicles.
– Status of existing and planned new transmission and distribution
networks.
– Ability to interconnect with neighbouring regions.
– Regulatory and Market Structure.
– Climatic conditions and Resource Availability.
SMART GRIDS in emerging economies and developing countries
• Under the correct conditions – emerging
economies could leap-frog directly to
some smart grid infrastructure.
• COMMUNITY-BASED MICRO GRIDS
EXPERIENCES IN RURAL KENYA is an
example of a strategy of using smart grid
technologies to accelerate electrification
to rural communities. * Source: IEA 2011
SMART GRID TECHNOLOGIES
• S3 – SG TECHNOLOGIES
KEY POINT: Smart grids encompass a variety of technologies that span the electricity system.
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPEMENT
Wide Area Monitoring & Control
ICT Technology
Renewable Energy Integration
Transmission Enhancements
Distribution Grid Management
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
TECHNOLOGY AREA
Phasor Measurement Units (PMU), Sensors , WAMS,
PLC, RF Mesh, 34/4G, LTE IT and DATA innovations
PV, CSP, Large Scale Storage
Superconductors, FACTS, HVDC
Load Control , Automated re-closers, Line sensors, DMS,OMS
Smart Meters, MDM systems, IHD
DEVELOPEMENT
Customer Side Systems
TECHNOLOGY MATURITY Technology Area Maturity Level Development
Trend
Wide-area monitoring and control Developing Fast
Information and communications technology integration
Mature Fast
Renewable and distributed generation integration*
Developing Fast
Transmission enhancement applications** Mature Moderate
Distribution management Developing Moderate
Advanced metering infrastructure Mature Fast
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure Developing Fast
Customer-side systems Developing Fast
* - Battery storage technologies are less mature than other distributed energy technologies. ** - High Temperature Superconducting technology is still in the developing stage of maturity.
TECHNOLOGY TREND EXAMPLE
• Focus on ICT
ICT Technology PLC, RF Mesh,
• Subset of
communication
technologies
WHAT WILL THE FUTURE REQUIRE?
Operational Efficiency
Customer Engagement
Demand Response
Basic Analytics
Smart Metering
(AMI) Smart Grid
Smart Cities
& “IoT”
Dist. Resources & Microgrids
Renewables Integration
Distribution Automation
Peak Load Management
Grid Reliability/ Efficiency
Water Conservation
Sustainability
Economic Development
Quality of Life
Energy Efficiency
REAL WORLD CHALLENGES: LAST MILE COMMUNICATIONS
Distribution Area 1
PLC Concentrator
DT
Distribution Area 2
PLC Concentrator
DT
ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Single network solution incorporates two communications technologies -RF and PLC - on the same chip set
Continuously monitors network for most reliable and fastest communication path
Network dynamically self-selects best communication path, from available media and modulation schemes
Assured connectivity at highest available speed Performance to support applications beyond smart metering (i.e. smart grid, smart cities applications)
RF Mesh
Power Line Carrier (PLC)
EASE OF DEPLOYMENT BENEFITS • Simplified deployment
• Maximizes network coverage minimizes mitigation
– More options for connection (RF or PLC depending on best path)
• Assures connectivity at highest possible speed – Dynamic link (RF/PLC), modulation and data rate selection
• Building to building connectivity via RF, PLC, or Pilot Cable
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Co
st /
Dif
ficu
lty
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
ADAPTIVE
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY Co
st /
Dif
ficu
lty RF-MESH ONLY
OR PLC ONLY
Lower Risk and Cost
SMART GRID TECHNOLOGIES
• S3 – SG TECHNOLOGIES
KEY POINT: Smart grids encompass a variety of technologies that span the electricity system.
SUMMARY OF KEY TAKE-AWAYS
• Smart Grid is not a single event, project or technology but it is a journey
• Smart Grid Strategies will vary from region to region depending on key drivers & priorities.
• Smart Grid Technologies span the entire electrical ecosystem and are at different levels of maturity and deployment.
• Note the importance of the communication infrastructure for the bigger vision (Smart Metering, Distribution Automation, Smart Cities, IoT and Societal Impact)
• Other Considerations: Regulation, Policy, Funding, Collaboration, Resources, Knowledge, etc
“ A well-designed smart grid will improve our quality of life, grow our economy, and drive the clean energy
revolution we need.”:
MIRIAM HORN Director, Smart Grid Initiative