The 21st Century Grid

Our current electric grid was conceived over 100 years ago and has been improving ever since with advances in technology. The electric grid is and interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers.  As our technology is continuing to advance, a new kind of electric grid is being built. This new grid is considered “smart” because of digital technology permitting two-way communication between the utility and its customers and the sensing along the transmission lines. This allows the electric grid to digitally respond to the household’s electric demand.

The energy industry has the opportunity to move into a phase of efficiency that will positively add to our economic and environmental health. Benefits stated by the U.S. department of Energy include; more efficient transmission of electricity, quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances, reduced operations and management costs for utilities, and ultimately lower power costs for consumers, reduced peak demand, which will also help lower electricity rates, increased integration of large-scale renewable energy systems, better integration of customer-owner power generation systems, including renewable energy systems and improved security.

According to David Crane, chief executive officer of NRG Energy, the U.S. power grid’s days are numbered.

“There are 3,200 utilities that make up the U.S. electrical grid, the largest machine in the world. These power companies sell $400 billion worth of electricity a year, mostly derived from burning fossil fuels in centralized stations and distributed over 2.7 million miles of power lines. Regulators set rates; utilities get guaranteed returns; investors get sure-thing dividends. It’s a model that hasn’t changed much since Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. And it’s doomed to obsolescence.”

With a focus on green energy and technology a threat is posed on the existing utility system. Cellphones have replaced land lines and the grid is increasingly being replaced by green energy.

Building and testing the Smart Grid is said to evolve over the next decade and will take a lengthy amount of time until it is completed, as it will consist of millions of pieces and parts. This 21^st grid is predicted to bring a transformation to our lives.

Here is a link to an informational video explaining the modern grid and its importance: http://www.netl.doe.gov/smartgrid/video.html

Works Cited

Martin, Chris. "Why the U.S. Power Grid's Days Are Numbered - Businessweek." Businessweek - Business News, Stock market & Financial Advice. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2013. <http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-22/homegrown-green-energy-is-making-power-utilities-irrelevant>.

"Smart Grid | Department of Energy." Department of Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2013. <http://energy.gov/oe/technology-development/smart-grid>.

              into, power quality as well as insights. "SmartGrid.gov: What is the Smart Grid?." SmartGrid.gov: Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2013. <http://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid#smart_grid>.

"moderngrid_web." DOE - National Energy Technology Laboratory: Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2013. <http://www.netl.doe.gov/smartgrid/video.html>.