1. The Smart Grid Enabling Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Clark W
The Smart Grid Enabling Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Clark W. Gellings
Chapter 4: Using a Smart Grid to Evolve The Perfect Power System
Brevard Community College
ETP1400 Distributed Electrical Power Generation and Storage
Bruce Hesher

2. Fresh Start
Power engineers are constrained by 2 anchors: the existing system and the view that technical solutions regarding power are bounded by central generation on one end and the utility meter on the other.
The electric grid is built with technology that hasn’t change much in 50 years. Some improvements have been added over the years but mostly it has simply grown.
Quality of service has deteriorated yet sensitive electronic devices are becoming more common.
What if we could design a new grid from scratch using today's’ technology?

3. The Galvin Vision: A Perfect Power System
A consumer focused power system that never fails. The design of a power system must start with the consumer’s needs and provide absolute confidence, convenience of choice in services provided so as to delight the consumer. His team used a “clean sheet of paper” approach that identified 4 potential system configurations associated with the path to a perfect power system:
Perfect Device-Level Power
Building Integrated Power
Distributed Power
Fully Integrated Power: A Smart Grid
See:

4. In order to provide service perfection to all energy users, the perfect power system must meet the following overarching goals:
Be smart, self-correcting, secure, self-correcting, and self-healing.
Sustain failure of individual components without interrupting service.
Be able to focus on regional area needs.
Be able to meet consumer needs at a reasonable cost with minimal resource utilization and minimal environmental impact.
Enhance the quality of life and improve economic productivity.

5. The design criteria that would be employed to meet these performance specifications must address the following key power system components or parameters:
1. End-Use Energy Service Devices
2. System Configurations and Asset Management
3. System Monitoring and Control.
4. Resource Adequacy.
5. Operations.
6. Storage.
7. Communications

6. Overview of the Perfect Power System Configurations
The basic philosophy in developing the perfect power system is first to increase the independence, flexibility, and intelligence for optimization of energy use and at the local level; and then to integrate local systems as necessary or justified for delivering perfect power supply and services.

7. Device-Level Power Systems p81 (Portable Power)
The first level of development for the perfect power system is called the “device level” power system. It has modest needs for communication and the need for convenient power storage (charging of batteries). Power quality and availability are paramount. Inductive charging with resonant coils may be used for this .
An RF Smartcard uses power from a magnetic field to inductively power it.

8. Advantages of the Perfect Device-Level Power System and Relevant Nodes of Operation
The perfect device-level power system has local generation, intelligent devices, and local storage therefore it has many advantages:
The reliability and quality of equipment is determined locally. So, it is not dependant on a massive power generation and delivery system that may go down.
Flexible system configuration. It is not dependant on any other power system infrastructure.
Innovations in end-use technologies, storage, etc. can be utilized immediately without issues of control and integration with the power delivery system.
There are tremendous opportunities for energy savings through local optimization of power requirements and new technology.
Renewables such as PV and wind generators can be integrated locally.

9. Device level Power System Examples (on Angel companion site)
1. Low cost Energy Efficient (electric) Lawn Care: This is a Windows Publisher file on the Angel site.
2. Targeted Photovoltaic applications like swimming pool pump.

10. Building Integrated Power Systems
The next level out from the core is the “building integrated” power system. At this level Energy sources and distribution infrastructure are integrated at the local level (a group of buildings, a factory, or a neighborhood). A local level power system can take advantage of a larger variety of power sources, create infrastructure for more optimum management, maintain local control and management for reliability.

11. Distributed Power Systems
The Distributed Power System connects multiple local power systems. It uses renewable generation and storage scaled to support at this level. It does not have the extensive power available to support large loads but does enable local power systems to take advantage of local generation and storage over a wider area for more efficient energy management.
Distributed power systems can improve reliability by using PV arrays, wind turbines, and etc. that are too large for residential areas.

12. The main advantage of the distributed configuration is that it provides additional flexibility in power generation and storage. The main communication and control is still expected to be localized. This power level adds reliability and economy of scale at the cost of increased complexity.
It helps to isolate local power systems from complete dependence on the bulk distribution grid.

13. Fully Integrated Power System: The Smart Grid
The final level of development involves a configuration that enables the complete integration of the power system across wide areas into a smart grid. The main difference between this and the traditional power grid is the inclusion of distributed generation. This power level needs to have the ability to efficiently transfer power over long distances.
Sensors, computation, and communications are used to determine where power is needed, where power is available and the best way to meet demand.

14. Nodes of Innovation
Some of the technology needed to deploy a perfect power system are available today, some are not. The perfect power systems will depend on the following 8 critical nodes of innovation:
Communications:
Computational ability:
Distributed Generation:
Power Electronics and Control:
Energy Storage:
Building Integrated Efficient Appliances and Devices:
Sensors:
See

15. Conclusion
This chapter details the possible configurations that may lead researchers and practitioners to think about evolving improved power systems resulting in a smart grid.
Power system engineers continue to debate the best approach to optimizing existing electric infrastructures for developed and developing nations.
Now is the time to pay attention to legislation and the path the electric infrastructure is taking to assure it will serve the interests of the people.