Profiling 68 Technology Providers, 52 Demonstration Projects, 54 Utilities and 34 Industry Organizations)
Smart Grid Realities: Technology Leaders, Investments and Projects
North America's electric system is facing serious challenges. Major questions exist about its ability to continue providing citizens and businesses with relatively clean, reliable, and affordable energy services. The recent downturn in the economy masks areas of grid congestion in numerous locations across America. The "information economy" requires a reliable, secure, and affordable electric system to grow and prosper. Unless substantial amounts of capital are invested over the next several decades in new generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, service quality will degrade and costs will go up. These investments will involve new technologies that improve the existing electric system, and advanced technologies that could revolutionize the electric grid.
This report discusses smart grid technologies and investments, and analyzes the impact the smart grid will have on the power industry. It examines the technologies needed for smart grid development, and profiles 68 smart grid technology providers. The report outlines 52 smart grid demonstration projects, including 32 DOE smart grid and storage projects. It profiles 54 utilities deploying the smart grid, and 34 industry organizations involved in smart grid development. It also provides details on 100 ARRA‐Funded Smart Grid projects.
The vision of the smart grid is to break down barriers between transmission and distribution, communications, and back office systems to create a fully integrated network that provides diagnosis and resolution of problems as they arise and enables real time exchange of information between the utility and its customers.
The power transmission and distribution system is being transformed into a smart grid that integrates a multitude of distributed energy resources, uses solid state electronics to manage and deliver power, and employs automated control systems. The power industry, trailing behind other economic sectors already revolutionized by computerization (e.g. retailing and manufacturing), will see inexpensive computing power and low cost bandwidth infuse every element of the grid with digital intelligence in coming decades.
Advanced metering plays a major role in any smart grid infrastructure, and wireless applications are at the heart of advanced metering communications systems. The wireless communications networks that will support advanced metering systems in the future will provide faster and more accurate use, load, and disruption information, which will help utility companies plan and manage their resources more efficiently and effectively.
Discover what companies are developing and deploying new technologies, and learn about cutting-edge smart grid programs in this comprehensive report.
View Table of Contents
Publication Date: May 2010
This report discusses smart grid technologies and investments, and analyzes the impact the smart grid will have on the power industry. It examines the technologies needed for smart grid development, and profiles 68 smart grid technology providers. The report outlines 52 smart grid demonstration projects, including 32 DOE smart grid and storage projects. It profiles 54 utilities deploying the smart grid, and 34 industry organizations involved in smart grid development. It also provides details on 100 ARRA‐Funded Smart Grid projects.
The vision of the smart grid is to break down barriers between transmission and distribution, communications, and back office systems to create a fully integrated network that provides diagnosis and resolution of problems as they arise and enables real time exchange of information between the utility and its customers.
The power transmission and distribution system is being transformed into a smart grid that integrates a multitude of distributed energy resources, uses solid state electronics to manage and deliver power, and employs automated control systems. The power industry, trailing behind other economic sectors already revolutionized by computerization (e.g. retailing and manufacturing), will see inexpensive computing power and low cost bandwidth infuse every element of the grid with digital intelligence in coming decades.
Advanced metering plays a major role in any smart grid infrastructure, and wireless applications are at the heart of advanced metering communications systems. The wireless communications networks that will support advanced metering systems in the future will provide faster and more accurate use, load, and disruption information, which will help utility companies plan and manage their resources more efficiently and effectively.
Discover what companies are developing and deploying new technologies, and learn about cutting-edge smart grid programs in this comprehensive report.
View Table of Contents
Publication Date: May 2010
