Smart grid will lead to better integration of renewable energy

SUBNET Solutions Inc | Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, are constantly being improved, resulting in lower installation prices and broader adoption of the technology. This will create a need for new smart grid technologies that can effectively integrate these intermittent sources into the power grid, PhysOrg reports.

According to a recent paper written by Reza Arghandeh, a doctoral candidate in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, solar energy is especially "intermittent, seasonal and non-dispatchable," however new smart grid technologies and policies are "significant tools for flexible and resilient operation of power systems with photovoltaic adoption levels."

In his paper, Arghandeh stated that the push toward a smarter grid will improve overall efficiency, reliability, economics and sustainability, as long as utilities and power companies take the necessary steps to integrate renewables into the grid, according to the news source.

SUBNET has worked with some of the largest utilities in North America to help them confront issues with intermittent power supplies, which can greatly affect how a power company handles the flow of electricity through the grid.

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