Smart Grid Distribution Automation
In the United States, transmission and distribution losses accounted for 260 teraWatt-hours (billion kWhs) of energy last year. Here’s a report in which Duke Energy, Silver Spring Networks and Power Analytics share their strategies for cutting these distribution losses, thus improving efficiency while improving grid reliability.
The annual Smart Grid Distribution Automation conference is in Raleigh, NC next February. If this were local, I’d probably check it out, but it’s too specialized to warrant making a trip out of town.
This is one of the reasons I am a big fan of distributed generation, power generated at the house/location where it is used. I live at least 25 miles from any of the 4 generation facilities I might get power from.(3 nuclear and 1 hydro) When I am generating power I do not lose as much getting it from my attached garage into the house where I use it as is lost getting it from any of the distant generation facilities and all of the transformers it must pass through to get to me. If I had a full up grid tied system then any power not being immediately used by me would be used by my nearest neighbor’s house and the loss would still be far less than getting the power from the distant generation facilities. Even if it’s only while the sun shines, which is usually during peak power usage times, I think it’s worth it. Micro combined heat and power would also help this situation as it supplies power 24/7 right in the house/facility where it is used and any excess is again used by neighboring houses reducing the power required from distant generation facilities. Were I located just 4 miles to the west, I would be in a class 3 wind zone and a windturbine would do well there. Many people including the amish have them and they are almost always spinning when I go out that way.
Government mandates to enhance grid efficiency is boosting the adoption of distribution automation technology across energy and utility sector. Transition of traditional grid to smart grid in emerging markets such as China, India and GCC countries is fueling growth of the market. Also, this technology enable end users to manage distributed renewable energy in an efficient manner, which is expected to support market growth over the forecast period. Reduction in long terms maintenance and operational cost and enhanced energy efficiency are the other major factors driving growth of the distribution automation market across the globe.
http://www.credenceresearch.com/report/distribution-automation-market