Modernize with Smart Grid EV energy solutions

EV energy solutions–transitioning from electric grids to smart grids built on digital and IoT solutions–are a do-or-die imperative for utility companies. Competition is growing, costs are rising and old equipment cannot keep up with the rapidly changing energy landscape. Although the smart grid has proven to be a solution to these problems, engineers and companies still have to decide how to best make this transition. This requires that you evaluate digital technology and equipment in order to find the best combination of reliability and security.

History of Development: When, where, and how did the smart grid first appear?

Although the power grid was established in 1896, it was partly based on Nikola Tesla’s 1888 design. However, recent developments have meant that electricity networks have not been able to keep up with current challenges such as security threats, distribution and power supply, and high power quality demands. Smart Grid was born, and the term smart grid has been used since 2005.

1. The largest and earliest Smart Grid

Teleogestore was installed by ENEL S.P.A. of Italy and completed in 2005. It is unlike any other utility system. It integrates electronic meters, contract management, and communication functions from the PLC. Automatic Meter Management communicates via public telecommunication networks such as GSM, GPRS, and satellite. Also, Each MV substation has LV concentrators (CBT). LV Concentrators can manage communication in both directions.However, Half-duplex communication is possible between Remote Metering Central System (RMCS) and Electronic Meters. Teleogestore is widely considered to be the first commercial application of Smart Grid.

2. The USA

States like Texas, California, and New Jersey are actively looking at ways to increase the use of technology and tools in order to realize a smarter grid. The main Smart Grid System list is

1. Distribution Management System (DMS), Platform by the University of Hawaii
2. Perfect Power from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).
3. Allegheny Energy – West Virginia Super Circuit
4. San Diego Gas & Electric’s Beach Cities Micro Grid
5. High penetration of clean energy technologies by the City of Fort Collins

3. In other countries

Hydro One, Canada’s largest Smart Grid project, is underway in Ontario. This system will be available to 1.3 million customers by the end of 2010 in Ontario. However, China’s government is embarking on a 10-year-long project to create a smart grid. This will allow power transmission to move into the digital age. It will also increase energy conservation and secure electricity supplies. Companies that supply equipment and technology to power industries are expected to benefit from the program.

What is a Smart Grid?

A combination of factors, including regulatory changes, and growth in renewable resource development, are driving a rapid transformation of the electric utility sector to a smart grid. An EV energy solutions is a network that combines energy generation, transmission, and distribution. Also, It can be enhanced with digital control, monitoring and telecommunications. However, Smart grid technology and its applications enable automated communication between utility customers and utilities. Also, The smart grid system gives all parties in the electricity chain – from the generation plant to the commercial, industrial and residential users – insight into electricity flow and the infrastructure transporting it. New digital equipment and devices can strategically deployed to enhance existing systems. Also, This layer of digital equipment connects all resources–an example of the Internet of Things (IoT in action).

What does a Smart Grid do?

The EV energy solutions are an extraordinary opportunity to transform the energy industry into a new era of reliability, availability, efficiency, and sustainability that will benefit our economic and ecological health. It will be crucial to conduct testing, technology improvements, and consumer education during the transition period. This will also help to develop standards and regulations and to share information between projects in order to make the Smart Grid a reality. Smart Grid has many benefits:

• Transmission of electricity more efficiently
• Faster restoration of electricity following power outages
• Lower utility operations and management costs, which ultimately lead to lower electricity costs for consumers.
• Lower peak demand will result in lower electricity rates.
• Integration of large-scale renewable energy systems into larger scales
• Integration of customer-owner power generation systems and renewable energy systems into a better system
• Security improvements

Six EV energy solutions Applications Leading the Change

Conventional grid technologies serve a single function: the transmission of electricity generated at a central power station. Voltage transformers are used to increase or decrease the voltage gradually, while still delivering energy to end users. Smart grids perform the same functions as conventional ones but have the advantage of being able to monitor all activities remotely and provide better and faster responses. Also, These include advanced metering infrastructure; demand response; electric vehicles; wide-area situational intelligence; distributed energy resources; storage; and management of the distribution grid.

1. Advanced Metering Infrastructure

This is also called AMI. This is simply the application of technologies such as smart meters to facilitate the two-way flow of information between utility agencies and customers. The information includes consumption time, amount, and pricing. This allows smart grids to perform a wider range of functions than conventional grid technologies. These functions include, but are not limited to:

• Remote consumption control
• Pricing is based on time
• Forecast for consumption
• Fault and outage detection
• Remote connection and disconnection
• Loss measurements and detection of theft
• Effective cash collection and debt management

These functions allow for better control over power efficiency, quality, and reliability in smart grids around the world. There are some drawbacks, however, that concern both consumers and utility companies, including privacy and confidentiality concerns and cybersecurity issues related to unauthorized access to AMI devices.

2. Demand Response

Demand Response (DR), programs are new and exciting applications for demand-side Management (DSM). Applications that increase grid reliability by providing services like frequency control, spinning reserve, and operating reserves as well as applications that reduce wholesale energy prices, and their volatility, and help to lower them are some examples. However, Grid technology has seen demand response applications developed through the establishment of energy regulatory bodies with open wholesale markets and policy support. From the customer’s perspective, there are two types of demand response programs:

• Price-based Customers adjust their electricity consumption according to the time-variant price set by their utility agencies in order to maximize their electricity usage and reduce their bills
• Incentive-based DR where the benefits are increased through promoting an incentive for customer behaviors to modify their demand consumptions

3. Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Although this may seem like a strange application for grids, EVs are a better solution to global warming problems due to the obvious electrification in the transport sector. The introduction of plug-in electric cars poses many challenges for grid technologies. If EVs are introduced to grids as regular loads then there won’t any flexibility in load variables which could endanger the grid.

4. Wide-Area Situational Awareness

This is the implementation of a group of technologies that designed to improve the monitoring of the power network across large geographical areas. Also, It effectively provides grid operators with a dynamic and broad picture of the grid’s functioning. According to, WASA systems give engineers and operators the right information at just the right moment for efficient operation of and analysis of power systems. Also, This is the ultimate goal. To understand and optimize smart reliability and performance, and to anticipate any problems that may arise.

5. Distributed Energy Resources and Storage

Distributed energy resources are also known as DER. They are part of distributed generation. These are energy sources or units that are smaller than the consumer’s side of an electricity generation meter. Energy is generated by sources that are mostly renewable and located near the point where it is needed, rather than from a centralized system. Examples include rooftop solar photovoltaic and wind-generating units. DER storage stores distributed energy for later usage. This is accomplished with two components: bi-directional inverters and DC-charged batteries. This helps to balance energy generation, demand, and supply. Other key features include:

• Peak shaving
• Load shifting
• Regulating voltage
• Renewable integration
• Back-up power

6. Distribution Grid Management

Management and display of the distribution grid within grids is about having a system that “can collect, organize, display, and analyze real-time or very close-to-real-time information about electric distribution systems.” The system allows grid operators to plan complex tasks and achieve high efficiency. This system can used in conjunction with other systems to provide a holistic view of distributed operations. EV energy solutions can programmed to prevent faults, reduce costs, and offer the highest value to consumers.

THE PROS

Blackouts can have a domino effect on security, traffic, and heating systems. An EV energy solutions has the advantage of automatically routing power to the most critical systems, minimizing outages as well as their effects. Smart grid systems could prevent winter crises such as those that occurred on the Gulf Coast in February 2021.

THE CONS

EV energy solutions can have positive effects and help in many ways. However, there are some drawbacks to such a system. One major disadvantage is the high overhead costs associated with grids. This would also increase labor costs. However, the new market for grids could lead to new markets for electricity and create many jobs.

Final Thoughts

EV energy solutions have many advantages. This is especially true if it can keep up with these challenges. We can expect more smart grid technology to installed in the future to address the growing problems of electricity use and the old grid system. These changes should welcomed because of their positive impact.