The document discusses Cape Light Compact's grid modernization update. It explains that a smart grid uses smart meters, appliances, renewable energy and storage to make the electric grid more efficient, reliable and able to incorporate more clean energy. A smart grid monitors electricity usage and can automate shifting of usage to times when renewable power is abundant to reduce costs and environmental impacts compared to the current grid.
2. • What is it?
– Telephone progress vs. electric grid progress
– What is it – schematic
• Why?
– Renewables/emissions
– Savings – show buildup of graph
– Reliability – outages – currently have to visually inspect!
– Make it more efficient, other?
• How
– Meters
– Appliances (what could you shift?) – thermostat, lights, washing machine,
dishwasher,
– Renewables/storage
– Electric vehicles
– Other technologies (communications, CVR/VVO, etc.)
6. Why is grid mod important?
More renewables!
7
VS.
7. Why is grid mod important?
Build fewer wires and generators!
Do we build roads large
enough for everyone to drive
on them at the same time?
8. Why is grid mod important?
Build fewer wires and generators!
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
January '14 All of 2014 All-time
record
New England Electricity Load (MW)
Peak 2014 average
With electricity, we
have to have
enough wires and
generators to meet
all of the demand
at once! On
average,
we use
this much,
but…
We have to plan
(and build wires,
and poles, and
generators, etc.)
for this much!
12. What makes up a smart grid?
Knowing how we use electricity!
Source: EIA 2015 Annual
Energy Outlook
Space
Heating
8%
Space Cooling
14%
Water Heating
9%
Refrigeration
8%
Cooking
2%
Clothes Dryers
4%
Freezers
2%
Lighting
12%
Clothes Washers
1%
Dishwashers
2%
Televisions and
Related Equipment
7%
Computers and
Related Equipment
3%
Furnace Fans and
Boiler Circulation
Pumps
3%
Other Uses
25%
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY END USES - NATIONAL
How do we use
electricity?
13. What makes up a smart grid?
Smart thermostat!
What could you do
with a thermostat
that knew how
much electricity
cost, or how much
solar power was
available?
14. What makes up a smart grid?
Smart appliances!
What things that use electricity could you use less of or
use at other times when electricity is scarce?
Alexander Graham Bell – would he recognize your cell phone as being the same as the phone that he invented?
According to smartgrid.gov: What Makes a Grid “Smart?”
In short, the digital technology that allows for two-way communication between the utility and its customers, and the sensing along the transmission lines is what makes the grid smart. Like the Internet, the Smart Grid will consist of controls, computers, automation, and new technologies and equipment working together, but in this case, these technologies will work with the electrical grid to respond digitally to our quickly changing electric demand.
What’s different about the generators on the left and right? Dispatchable vs. intermittent, emissions, pay for fuels vs. free fuels, located far from where we use electricity vs. on or next to our homes, etc.
Modern grid makes reduces the number of people that lost power when something impacts the system, and makes it easier and faster to find the problem and fix it. Right now, if something breaks, the utility has to go out and look for the problem!
Modern grid makes reduces the number of people that lost power when something impacts the system, and makes it easier and faster to find the problem and fix it. Right now, if something breaks, the utility has to go out and look for the problem!
Can talk about how, today, only know how much electricity we use over the course of a month, and even then, only several weeks later. Would be like if teacher only graded papers and quizzes at the end of the year! Smart meters can provide real-time data to phones and computers (and in Worcester, digital picture frames, pictured) so that we can see how we’re using electricity in real time.
Might ask them to think about how electricity usage on the Cape might be different than national averages.
Hot water heater, washer/dryer, fridge (defrost cycle actually warms up the freezer to melt ice!), dishwasher
Smart grid – gives grid operators more information on when solar and wind are producing electricity, so that the grid operator can better manage the grid, and efficiently dispatch other sources of power. Also, soon be able to use batteries to power homes when the electricity goes out (longer if paired with solar), and can send electricity to the grid when electricity is scarce, and store it when solar and wind are producing a lot of electricity!
Kind of a catch-all to remind that there grid mod includes things we can’t see – better data collection to better plan modifications to the grid, CVO, VVR, etc. Boring things, so focus is just on the fact that there are other, grid-facing things happenening.
