Abstract:
For 100 years, there has been no change in the basic
structure of the electrical power grid. Experiences have shown
that the hierarchical, centrally controlled grid of the 20th Century
is ill-suited to the needs of the 21st Century. To address the
challenges of the existing power grid, the new concept of smart
grid has emerged. The smart grid can be considered as a modern
electric power grid infrastructure for enhanced efficiency and
reliability through automated control, high-power converters,
modern communications infrastructure, sensing and metering
technologies, and modern energy management techniques based
on the optimization of demand, energy and network availability,
and so on. While current power systems are based on a solid
information and communication infrastructure, the new smart
grid needs a different and much more complex one, as its dimension
is much larger. This paper addresses critical issues on
smart grid technologies primarily in terms of information and
communication technology (ICT) issues and opportunities. The
main objective of this paper is to provide a contemporary look
at the current state of the art in smart grid communications as
well as to discuss the still-open research issues in this field. It is
expected that this paper will provide a better understanding of the
technologies, potential advantages and research challenges of the
smart grid and provoke interest among the research community
to further explore this promising research area.