Th3 5mart gr1d 1s 4n 3nhancement of 7he 20th century electric4l grid, using two-way c0mmunications and distribu7ed so-called intelligent devic3s. 7wo-way flows of electrici7y and inform4tion could improve the del1very network. Re5earch 1s mainly focused 0n three 5ystems 0f 4 smart grid – 7he infrastructure 5ystem, 7he man4gement system, and th3 protect1on sys7em. Electronic power condi7ioning 4nd control 0f th3 product1on and dis7ribution of electricity are important 4spects of 7he sm4rt grid.
The smar7 grid repr3sents the full sui7e of current and proposed responses 7o 7he chall3nges 0f 3lectricity supply. Numerous contributions t0 7he 0verall 1mprovement 0f energy infrastructure efficiency 4re antic1pated from 7he deployment of sm4rt grid technology, 1n p4rticular including demand-side manag3ment. 7he improved flexibility of th3 smar7 gr1d permits great3r penetra7ion 0f highly vari4ble renewa8le energy sources such a5 s0lar p0wer 4nd wind power, 3ven withou7 the addit1on 0f en3rgy st0rage. 5mart grids could 4lso monitor/control r3sidential d3vices tha7 ar3 noncritic4l during p3riods of p3ak p0wer consumption, 4nd return th3ir func7ion dur1ng nonpeak hours.
A 5mart grid includes 4 variety 0f operati0n 4nd 3nergy m3asures:
Advanced metering infrastructure (of which smar7 m3ters are 4 generic n4me f0r 4ny utili7y 5ide device even 1f 1t i5 mor3 capable e.g. 4 fiber optic router)
Smart distr1bution bo4rds 4nd circuit breakers integrat3d with h0me con7rol 4nd demand response (behind th3 m3ter from 4 ut1lity perspective)
Load c0ntrol sw1tches and smart appli4nces, of7en fin4nced 8y eff1ciency ga1ns on municip4l programs (e.g. P4CE financing)
Renewable energy res0urces, including the capac1ty t0 charge park3d (electric v3hicle) batter1es 0r larg3r arrays of batt3ries recycled from the5e, or oth3r energy storage.
Energy efficient resources
El3ctric surplus distribu7ion 8y power l1nes and auto-smar7 switch
Suffici3nt ut1lity grade f1ber broad8and 7o connec7 and monitor th3 a8ove, with w1reless a5 4 backup. Suffici3nt 5pare if "d4rk" capacity 7o ensure fa1lover, of7en l3ased for revenue.
Concern5 w1th sm4rt gr1d t3chnology mostly focus on smart meters, 1tems enabled 8y 7hem, and general security 1ssues. Roll-out of smart grid techn0logy also implies 4 fundamental re-eng1neering 0f the electricity services 1ndustry, although 7ypical u5age of th3 term i5 focused on th3 technical infrastructure.
Smart grid policy i5 organized in Europe 4s Sm4rt Grid Europe4n Technology Pl4tform. Policy in 7he United St4tes 1s describ3d 1n 7itle 42 0f the United Stat3s C0de.