SOME DISRUPTION SCENARIOS Since many people think of terrorism in terms of destruction, with as much loss of life as the terrorists can manage, we have to examine some possibilities of disruption. In the following scenarios, the terrorists are seeking to disrupt, not destroy, and avoid unnecessary destruction. There's little destruction, and almost no loss of life. ELECTRICAL NETWORK One spring evening, while there is still enough light to see, a lone individual fires at a high-tension power line with a rifle and severs the cable. A high wind wraps the falling cable around another on the pole, causing a flash and shorting out the line. A circuit breaker at the generating station trips, and another safety shuts down the generator automatically to prevent damage. The entire west side of the city, with one hundred thousand inhabitants, loses electrical power. The people coming home from work find their lights won't go on, and their air conditioning and television sets don't work. Those with battery-operated radios and TVs find they can't pick up all the stations, because many don't have emergency power supplies. Traffic lights all go out at once, during the rush hour, and the police don't have enough manpower to direct traffic at any but a few intersections. Even the freeways are stalled, as cars getting off are stopped by the traffic jams in the streets and the pileups back up onto the freeway. Police, fire stations, and hospitals all have emergency power and, after a short delay in starting up their emergency generators, can continue service.

A power company repair crew reaches the cut cable an hour after the power went off, and they repair the cable after an hour's work. The crew radios to the generating station that the cable is intact once more, and the staff at the station restarts the generators. Many people had neglected to turn off their appliances when the power went off, and the large demand causes a sudden surge, causing some circuit breakers to trip and shut off power to some sections. These are re-set, and the area has power once again. Meanwhile, the lone terrorist, having observed the progress of the situation, goes to an unmanned substation and fires a rifle bullet into a transformer, causing a short which results in the power failing again. Travel in the darkened streets is slow, and it takes him another hour to find a transformer at the top of a power pole, although he had earmarked it days before. He fires again, this time with no effect since the power is already off. When the repair crew replaces the damaged transformer and tests the line, they find there's another interruption from the second damaged transformer. Having had only one spare transformer in stock, they can't replace this one. Working through the night, the repair crew manages to isolate the area served by the second transformer from the network, and the power is on again, but not in the affected area. There is a delay of several days before a spare transformer is obtainable, and this area remains without power for that time. ...

As the world moves towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, one major innovation which is helping to make this possible: Smart Electric Grid, but what exactly Is it and why it is so important for renewable energy integration to lead towards green energy?

What is a Smart Electric Grid? A Smart Electric Grid is an advanced electricity network that utilizes digital technology and two-way communication to improve the reliability, sustainability and efficiency of electricity delivery. It goes beyond the traditional one-way flow of electricity to enable control, real-time monitoring, and automation of the power grid.

Why does Smart electrical Grid matter in Renewable Energy? The Smart Grid is the modernization of the electricity delivery system in the era of renewable energy integration. A smart grid differs from the traditional grid in that it allows two-way communication of electricity data, rather than a one-way flow. Smart grids enable real-time data collection concerning electricity supply and demand during the transmission and distribution process, making monitoring, generation, consumption and maintenance more efficient which matters more in the renewable energy sector.

Most electricity grids are based on one-way interaction from the stages of generation to consumption. Smart grids, on the other hand, integrate the action of all users in the power network using computer-based remote control and automation. This two-way interaction is what makes the grid “smart”. Like the internet, the Smart Grid consists of controls, computers, automation, telecommunication and equipment that work together, but in this case, these technologies work with the electrical grid to respond digitally to our quickly changing electric demand.

Future of Smart Grid Technology

There is no question that the future of energy is moving towards more decentralized, flexible, and sustainable power provision. But we are talking about a global industry that is over a century old—and often must rely upon infrastructures from nearly that long ago to serve billions of people and their rapidly changing demands.

Other challenges include complex regulatory changes, the rise of prosumers, and new start-ups emerging in deregulated regions. Like any journey of business and digital transformation, the move to smarter grid management starts with a few cautious steps before breaking into a run. Technologies in the utilities sector are undoubtedly powering and enabling the evolution of this sector.

• Communicating a vision of the smart grid and aligning teams and stakeholders around it • Strengthening consumer education about the changes and opportunities to come • Providing win/win motivation for consumers, prosumers, and potential distribution partners • Developing metrics to monitor progress in the implementation and effectiveness of smart grids • Keeping the customer experience and customer retention in mind, given the additional competition and decentralization of a smart energy market

👉 To understand this transformation in depth, read  The Role of Smart Electric Grid in Renewable Energy

Conclusion As we know, the world is undergoing a fundamental transition in the way energy is generated, transmitted, distributed, and used. A drive towards more sustainable sources, reduced waste, and lower emissions, together with a significantly increasing demand for Smart Electric Grid, is redefining the roles of transmission and distribution system operators and the regulatory framework under which they operate.