Smart Grids

This book provides a comprehensive overview of smart grid technology. Chapters address such topics as the advantages and disadvantages of AC/DC hybrid microgrids, DER components in an AC microgrid, methodologies for solving the reconfiguration and reactive power compensation dispatch in a smart distribution network, digital twin types, the different types of energy storage systems, and much more.

This book comprises the select proceedings of the International Conference in Power, Energy, Control, Signals and Systems (IPECS) 2022. The book focuses on intelligent solutions for smart grids and smart cities. The content of this book is designed to develop many innovative ideas for an energy-efficient and sustainable future. It focuses on recent technological advances and challenges in the field of grid integration of renewable energy resources, AI/ML in power and energy systems, security enhancement of power systems/electronics using advanced ML techniques for integration of renewable energies, electric vehicle-energy storage, and battery charging technologies, etc. The book also covers the latest advances especially in instrumentation and control in smart grid applications —Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems, power semiconductor device technology leading to improvements in power losses for power electronic systems, economic and sustainable design of smart cities-security and data privacy in smart cities, lighting, and illumination. This book proves to be a valuable resource for those in academia and industry.

The proliferation of renewable energy enhances the sustainability of power systems, but the inherent variability also poses great challenges to the planning and operation of large power grids. The corresponding electric power deficiencies can be compensated by fast ramping generators and energy storage devices. However, frequent ramp up/down power adjustments can increase the operation and the maintenance cost of generators.

This book introduces the most promising enabling technologies and methodologies for smart grids. It not only focuses on technological breakthroughs and roadmaps in implementing these technologies, but also presents the much-needed sharing of best practices, demonstrating the potential role of smart grid functions in improving the technical, economic, and environmental performance of modern power distribution systems.

Data-driven techniques have been recognized as the most promising enabling technologies for improving decision-making processes in smart grids, providing the right information at the right moment to the right decision-maker. In this context, grid sensor data-streaming cannot provide the smart grids operators with the necessary information to act on in the time frames necessary to minimize the impact of the disturbances. Even if there are fast models that can convert the data into information, the smart grid operator must deal with the challenge of not having a full understanding of the context of the information, and, therefore, the information content cannot be used with any high degree of confidence.