Smart Grids balancing renewable energy growth

Continuously monitoring energy generation and consumption of smart grids provides utilities with valuable insights for balancing power supply.

- Sanjiv Prasad

Grid stability is crucial to a reliable power supply, ensuring that voltage and frequency remain constant and electricity is delivered without disruptions. In India, solar and wind are the primary renewable energy sources. Solar generation fluctuates with the availability of sunlight, while wind power depends on wind speeds, which vary throughout the day and night. These fluctuations can lead to voltage and frequency imbalances, making it difficult to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. Disruptions like blackouts and load shedding are undesirable in modern energy systems where reliability is expected.

One of the most effective ways to address this challenge is by adopting smart grids. Smart grids integrate digital technologies, sensors and software that enable real-time data transmission and communication. Continuously monitoring energy generation and consumption of smart grids provides utilities with valuable insights for balancing power supply. They facilitate automated adjustments, allowing backup generation sources like thermal power plants to ramp up when renewable output drops. Grid automation, advanced metering infrastructure and distributed energy resource management systems further enhance operational efficiency.