AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
generating facility. Here, the type of property such as solar
cooperatives is actively developing. Owners of solar and wind
power plants are combined into a common mini-grid to ensure
the sustainability and continuity of electric energy generation.
The proportion of alternative energy in Germany exceeds 25%.
In 2017, the proportion of alternative energy in the UK increased
by 5%, reaching 30%. In total, in recent years, the green energy
generation accounts for about 55% of all electric energy
produced. However, this includes the performance of nuclear
power plants, though their proportion in electric energy
production is constantly declining, while solar and wind power
plants are increasing their total capacity.
Despite the fact that the proportion of alternative energy in
Australia is yet 3-4%, this country is one of the world leaders in
the pace of solar energy development. Each year, the capacity of
solar power plants is almost doubled. Especially worth noting is
Australia's contribution to the development of hybrid (joint use
of solar and wind power plants) alternative energy, as well as the
construction of large systems of energy accumulation and
storage.
Countries that do not lack traditional sources of energy are also
engaged in the development of alternative energy. For example,
the UAE plans to invest about 50 bln USD in the construction of
solar power plants. Iran, considering the possibility of building a
2 MW solar power plant, has already signed a delivery contract
on solar panels with the Norwegian manufacturer.
Today, in most advanced countries worldwide, more and more
attention is paid to the implementation of Smart Grid
technologies in the power industry as the basis for future energy
industry development. In this regard, the international energy
practice initiated the development of innovative renewal
concepts of the electric power industry, which is based on the
following initial provisions:
1.
Comprehensive modernization of the concerned power
industry sector, including all its elements, such as power
generation, dispatching, transmission and distribution,
sales, and energy consumption.
2.
The power grid (all its segments) is considered as a key
object to create a new technological basis for the functional
properties development of the power system.
3.
The energy system is developing as an Internet-type
infrastructure to form relationships between all energy
market players and other stakeholders in the field of
energy, information, economy, and finance.
4.
The concepts’ creating process includes the broad range of
activities – from preliminary research to transfer of
innovations, and is carried out at all tiers of innovative
development of the electric power industry, namely,
regulatory,
technological, technical, organizational,
managerial, and information levels.
5.
The development and implementation of concepts and
appropriate programs for the implementation of smart
technologies are innovative in nature and give impetus to
the transition to a new technological structure in the power
industry and the economy in general.
The central position among the energy-efficient developments is
occupied by Smart Grids, which are automated self-regulating
power systems based on advanced information technologies, and
capable of making energy supply more reliable, while energy
consumption – more economical, providing maximum restriction
of adverse impact on the environment.
In the world energy sector, there are different interpretations of
the Smart Grid concept. Generally, Smart Grid is an electric
network based on modern innovative technologies and
equipment, which effectively coordinates and manages the
operation of all connected objects, namely, various systems of
power generation, transmission, and distribution of electric
energy to consumers in order to create an economically viable
and stable power system with low losses and a high level of
reliability and quality of energy supply.
It follows from the conducted review that, first of all, Smart Grid
is interpreted today all over the world as a concept of innovative
renewal of electric power industry, which allows using the latest
technologies, tools, and methods to significantly improve the
efficiency of energy systems.
At the global level, the Smart Grid concept combines a number
of modern trends and technologies, which include:
control of electrical and energy consumption systems, such
as intelligent control systems at centralized and distributed
power generation, including alternative energy sources;
power distribution automation systems for medium and
low voltage systems;
smart metering, i.e. smart system technology for
accounting and settlement, as well as load control mode;
customer information and billing systems in the field of
energy supply and public services;
electric vehicle charging systems, and the like.
In order to improve the efficiency of energy resources and
reliability of the power grid complex during the global economic
crisis, the initiative for the Smart Grids development was
supported by the governments of several countries. The EU
countries, USA, and Canada have stepped up work in these areas
with priority implementation of the two main components of the
Smart Grid concept: flexible alternating current transmission
systems (FACTS), and voltage regulation, as well as the system
of smart multitariff metering on energy consumption (Smart
Metering).
The implementation of the Smart Grid concept should take into
account the requirements of all stakeholders, namely, the state,
generating, network, and energy supply companies, consumers
and equipment manufacturers, etc.
In accordance with this, the core values of the new electric
power industry are defined as follows:
availability, i.e. providing consumers with energy meeting
the required parameters;
reliability and quality of power supply;
efficiency, i.e. optimization and differentiation of tariffs for
energy supply with simultaneous reduction of system-wide
costs for electric energy production and distribution;
efficient use of all types of resources and technologies in
electric energy production, transmission, distribution, and
consumption;
reduction of adverse impact on the environment.
Achieving the above goals in the framework of the Smart Grid
concept is based on the following core approaches:
1.
Taking into account the needs of all participants and
customer-oriented approach. Decision-making on the
electric power industry development and activities is
carried out by balancing the array of participants’ interests
in terms of their expected benefits and costs, where the
consumer is also an active participant in the process in the
context of the independent formation of conditions for the
amount of energy received, the nature of energy properties,
and the quality of energy services.
2.
The increasing role of automated control in power systems
and energy consumption modes with improved control of
individual elements and the power system in general.
3.
Transforming information links into the main element that
provides the transition from the energy system to a
qualitatively new energy information system.
At that, information is the main means of optimizing
management.
The following functional properties of the electric power
industry are developing within the framework of Smart Grid
concepts:
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