Technologies of Smart Grid - Smart Grid (R) Evolution: Electric Power Struggles - page 55

3.3 Technologies for Fulfilling Smart Grid Promises
Smart grid offers multiple promises to improve the legacy system and improve electricity
use across society. In Chapter 2 these promises were outlined; they include enhanced
reliability and security, economic benefits and cost savings, environmental improvement,
and a more engaged citizenry. How can electricity system technologies contribute to
realization of these promises? What technologies could induce system changes? To what
degree might smart grid technologies represent a rearrangement of the current
sociotechnical system?
The “smart grid” umbrella term represents the integration of digital technologies,
sensors, and other ICT to empower more efficient and reliable electricity management and
use. Smart grid technologies include both consumer-facing technologies (those with which
consumers interact) and grid-facing technologies (those in transmission and distribution
that are less visible to consumers). Smart grid technologies also include both hardware
and software ( Table 3.1 ) . The next section and Table 3.1 review some of these different
technologies.

Table 3.1. Major smart grid technologies. Adapted from information sources from
the Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse (Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse
2012 ) .

Stage Technology Definition

Generation Generation Grid-tie

inverter

A grid-tie inverter (GTI)
is a special type of
inverter used for
integrating renewable
energy sources (e.g. PV)
with the utility grid