Transitioning from Centralized to Distributed Intelligence

 Maximize the Value of Smart Grid Technology
 

There remains significant electricity industry emphasis on implementing smart grid technologies. These implementations include the investments necessary to refurbish and/or replace aging electric distribution infrastructure to enable a Smart Grid. As the electric industry succeeds in linking these related aspects of a truly modernized grid, few doubt the inevitability of a robust and intelligent energy network.

A critical element of the Smart Grid is the need to transition from a centralized monitoring and control architecture to a more distributed approach. This is essential to ensuring that the electric utilities and their customers realize all the potential benefits related to Smart Grid, including:

• Voltage Monitoring
• Cyber Security
• Substation Automation with AMI and Demand Response

Increased amount of data poses challenges and opportunities

With the high levels of industry attention on AMI and Demand Response, there is every reason to be concerned that some of these other “smart” functions are being overlooked or underdeveloped, particularly the management and cross-pollination of larger quantities of data that, accomplished effectively, can improve efficiency for voltage and line monitoring, substation monitoring and automation, and outage management.

Put “first things first”

There is a developing school of thought that the more prudent course of Smart Grid implementation is to first focus on distribution automation and add system “intelligence: through distributed monitoring and control. The goal is to use new data sources that were previously unavailable to improve system modeling and control; and only after accomplishing this start the comprehensive roll out of smart meters (Though there will likely be small smart meter pilot projects to test out AMI applications and customer receptivity).

Capture all potential benefits

Moving from a centralized architecture to a distributed model should produce the following benefits:

• Actions can be taken at the field level based on insights developed from active voltage monitoring
• Algorithms can be used in the field to improve the routing of power
• Data and real time information can be pulled from meters and other monitoring devices and brought under a common infrastructure. This integrated control system will be essential to the prevention of outages (a core benefit of the smart grid initiative).