SMART GRID Group 26: Trang Trieu Grace Truong Nicki Tran Lisa Trinh
WHAT IS SMART GRID? An intelligent electricity- delivery system: energy suppliers and consumers: interconnect through a network Smart meters: are installed at homes and business monitor energy consumption transmit that information back to energy providers Energy providers : track energy consumption automatically throttle down energy consumption on a granular level when demand gets too high.
WHO ARE USING SMART GRID? Individual consumers Corporate participation Government regulators
HOW SMART GRID IS USED? Foster communication between the energy company and the end consumer Electricity is sent from: Allows energy companies to track areas of high use, identify possible outages, and provide the proper service. Energy company Distribution center destination
ADVANTAGES OF SMART GRID Reduces the cost of blackouts $$$ Helps measure and reduce energy consumption and costs Helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint Opens up new opportunities for tech companies meaning more jobs created!!!
DISADVANTAGES OF SMART GRID Biggest concern: security and privacy Smart Grid: use automated meters, two-way communications: between a power consumer and provider and advanced sensors Some types of meters can be hacked Hacker: gain control of thousands, even millions, of meters increase or decrease the demand for power
DISADVANTAGES (cont.) Not simply a single component Various technology components: software, the power generators, system integrators, etc. Expensive for consumer: $60 per month
WHAT WILL HAPPEN? Fastest growing business in the Green-Tech market Was included in Obama’s stimulus bill U.S. Congress “act without delay” Very few companies invest and utilize: Austin Energy (Texas) and Pacific Gas & Electric (California)
SMART GRID FUTURE In the near future, will not be any vast development Risky because of financial demands and regulations In the long-run, attitudes will change, wide spread usage of the smart grid from every business to every home just like the Internet