Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Other Environmental Benefits
In addition to the environmental benefits just mentioned, the changes associated with smart
grid could also allow new strategies to reduce air and water pollution. Smart grid could
allow for the widespread development of market tools to manage environmental emissions.
For example, the Tennessee Valley Authority has developed a real-time 8,760-hour carbon
intensity product which allows its industrial customers to manage the carbon-related
emissions from their electricity use. If smart grid reduces fossil fuel use, other
environmental benefits will include reduced environmental impacts from fossil fuel
extraction such as coal mining, oil drilling, and gas fracking. Reduced fossil fuel use
would also reduce NO
x
and SO
x
emissions, which harm human and ecosystem health. The
integration of environmental management of electric system pollutants and water use into
grid management could help to link the environmental impacts of electricity production to
energy use and reduce environmental emissions.
2.2.4 Empowered Citizens
For some, one of the most exciting promises of smart grid is that it could empower
citizenstomoreactivelyengageinthegenerationandmanagementoftheelectricitysystem
at multiple levels (i.e. communities, organizations, households and individuals). Citizen
empowerment could transform interactions among electricity users and utilities, allow for
integration of new electricity producers, and give communities and consumers more of a
stake in decisions about electricity grid development and deployment.
The smart grid promise of citizen empowerment comes in many forms. Enabling and
encouraging distributed generation, including household and community-level renewable
electricity generation, offers new ways for citizens to engage and control their electricity
systems. Providing consumers with more information about real-time electricity use
through smart meters is one way to empower people to be more involved and intentional
in their energy use. As consumers obtain price data from their smart meters, they are better
able to manage their own energy use. The standard industry term to describe this promise is
demand-side management, also discussed in
section 2.2.1
on economic promise. Providing
customers access to real-time price signals offers the potential for households to harmonize
their consumption patterns with availability of low-priced electricity and to consider their
daily practices more holistically. This information also invites individuals and households
to consider options for generating their own electricity and becoming more sophisticated
energy prosumers.
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