Smart Grids. What is the Buzz on Smart Grids - Essay Example

This essay examines prominent elements related to smart grid technology. There are a variety of ways that smart grids differ from the current electricity infrastructure in the United States. Perhaps the most overarching distinguishing feature between the current electricity infrastructure and smart grids is that smart grids use digital technology. This technology carries with it a many more potentialities than the current system. Another of the major elements that differentiate smart grids from current electricity infrastructure is the nature of information collection.

The current electricity infrastructure lacks the ability to determine the specific contexts in which consumers use energy; smart grids have the ability to record this information, allowing for the development of more efficient energy sources. The smart grid would also aid service providers in determining peak periods of demand. This would allow them to more accurately raise prices during high demand periods and reduce prices during low demand times. While this technology aids service providers it can also potentially aid consumers target their peak energy uses, allowing them to more efficiently use energy.

Another prominent element that differentiates smart grids from current electricity infrastructure is the ability for power companies to more accurately and efficiently determine the areas and causes of blackouts. There are a number of management, organization, and technology issues that should be considered when developing a smart grid. In terms of technology, one of the prominent considerations is from the consumer end with in-home displays. In-home displays are a significant consideration as they would greatly aid consumers in reducing their energy consumption and allow them to program devices more efficiently.

Another important technological consideration is the development of a means of implementing alternative energy. This has already occurred in the Boulder, Colorado SmartGridCity project where consumers are able to save solar power and implement it at a later time. In terms of management and organizational elements the major consideration must be given to coordinating the project in such a way as to communicate to interested parties that such technology is not only effective, but also worth the expense.

Management must also consider public perception in terms of privacy concerns. It’s noted that consumer advocate groups have questioned the Orwellian nature of the in-home monitoring devices. It follows that management will need to quell these concerns and brand the smart grids in a positive light. While there are a number of potential challenges to the implementation of smart grid technology, it’s clear that the greatest challenge will be convincing stakeholders of the financial viability of their implementation.

This process involves the service providers, but also consumers and consumer advocate groups. Consider that consumer advocates have already vowed to fight against smart grids if they raise customer rates, particularly for customers who are unable to use the Web portals or at-home systems for monitoring energy use. While smart grids are specific to energy infrastructure, it’s clear other areas of infrastructure could benefit from smart technology. While to an extent they have already been implemented in this context, it’s clear smart technologies could be highly effective in terms of traffic systems.

In these contexts smart technology could be used for elements such as regulating flows of traffic through managing traffic lights. In addition to traffic light regulation smart technology