SMART GRIDS
The energy transition is reshaping the energy landscape:
- Energy uses are changing: positive-energy buildings, electric vehicles, variable-intensity street lighting, storage batteries, etc.
- Energy systems are becoming more complex as intermittent renewable sources come online, with production happening in decentralised locations and to patterns that do not reflect people’s routines.
These changes can cause a disconnect between electricity supply and demand and require larger investment in stable grids and production methods (especially fossil fuels).
Smart Grids can be used to manage existing grids in a more efficient, dynamic way, from production to the consumer, using new information and communication technologies. The result is a more predictive, communicative and controllable electricity system.
The ultimate aim is to have flexible grids that can adapt better to the behaviours and actions of all connected users (producers, consumers and users who are both), providing a low-cost way to synchronise production and consumption while paving the way for efficient integration of clean, economical technologies (renewables, electric vehicles, etc.).
