Sustainable Energy and Smart Grids: Breakthrough in Thinking, Modelling, and Technology
One of the greatest challenges modern society faces is the supply of sustainable energy. One fundamental issue is finding the right portfolio of energy sources that are environmentally safe and cost-effective. This case study discusses the challenges of electric energy systems and how to integrate sustainable energy resources and smart grid developments.
Sustainable Energy Sources
Sustainable Energy and Smart Grids
The large-scale introduction of renewable sustainable intermittent
and non-
intermittent energy generation requires the development of new grid
technologies. Most of the sustainable energy is produced and transported in
electrical
form. It is not necessarily produced where it is also consumed. This
means
that the transport capacity of the future grid must probably be much
larger
than it is now. Currently, variations in power consumption and in
power generated from intermittent sustainable sources are instantaneously
compensated
by variations in generated power in conventional power stations. If
conventional power stations are abolished in a sustainable system, it is
necessary
to adapt the load to the available power or to use large-scale
energy storage.
Therefore, the distribution grid has to be adapted to enable the
large-scale use
of small-scale solar power in a safe way and also considering the
bi-directional
flow of power on distribution circuits.