Influence of Solar Power in Smart Grids

 Published in :

http://www.energetica-india.net/magazine/november-december-2012#/52/

Swaminathan G, Research and Development, Schneider-Electric, Bangalore
Umashankar S, School of Electrical Engineering, VIT University, Vellore

Innovation and modernization with new trends is being introduced in almost every field of
science and technology. To the exception the power grid management across the world is not
updated with the technology enhancement. Today’s grid is outmoded (Most of the grids are
designed and installed before the era of microprocessors) and suffering from reliability issues. The
Grid control and optimization is modernized in a slow pace all around when compared to the pace of
technology advancement. This is mainly due to the huge infrastructure investment involved. Now we
are in the era of Smart Grid, hence lot of research and development activities in smart grid are
under progress. The educational institutions and multinational companies are aggressively working
on the smart grid concepts and non-conventional energy exploitation towards the green globe
environmental cause for the future world. The core concept of smart grid is about integrating the
Information Technology and Electrical utility for the benefit of consumers as well as industry.
A smart grid is a system that is adaptive, interactive, secured, supports bi-directional energy
flow and has no geographical or organizational boundaries.
Salient features of Smart Grid:
• Intelligent metering and better reliability
• Improved interoperability of appliances and equipments connected along with the
infrastructure serving the Grid.
• Better demand and response control deployment.
• Active consumer participation by enabling control over consumption and associated
costs over a wide network.
• Distributed power generation and grid interaction from all sources of energy like
Wind turbines, Solar panels and so on.
• Consumer engagement with resources to solve power crisis.
• Environmentally friendly by maintaining the ratio of renewable generation to total
generation and emission control.
With the implementation of smart grid technology, the penetration level of renewables
may rise to 40%, demand response to 20%, consumer generation increase tenfold, and
generation, transmission and distribution asset utilization rise about 30%-50%.
The benefits of smart grid can be enhanced through the integration of non-conventional
energy sources like Solar, Wind and Biomass power plants. Solar power takes the prominent
position among all other sources due to its continuous availability and cost effectiveness. Solar
energy is available in abundance. The light energy insolation from sun in a day is sufficient to power
the energy needs of whole world for 365 days. In recent days, the solar photo voltaic cell
manufacturing costs have come down due to the encouragement form Government in the form of
subsidy. this in turn reduces the cost of solar power generation. Because of the promotion and go
green initiatives, the number of solar power plants is on the raise and hence the total installed
capacity of solar power plants. It is estimated that by 2015,the total installed capacity of solar power
will be 33.4 GW.
Further the Smart Grid technology will open up more opportunities for solar power by
providing a new energy value chain, linking renewable and conventional power generation to
reduce CO2 emission, and enhance utilization through reliable operation. The presence of Smart
Grid will help to streamline the distributed solar power generation using rooftop solar arrays to feed
electricity into the grid during daylight in order to meet the peak demand. This will result in individual
house owners and business units investing in solar power generation and will find it comfortable to
sell the power which they generate fedback to the local power utilities and pay their energy bill, or
even make a profit out of it. The evaluation of smart grid technology will influence a significant
demand of solar power system and rooftop solar PV arrays that are Smart Grid compatible.
Today’s conventional electricity utility involves centralized power generation, transmission,
distribution, and consumption, which lacks in flexibility to distributed power generation. In future, the
emergence of Smart Grid will allow seamless integration of power generation from distributed
sources, such as rooftop solar PV arrays, along with traditional power generation plants of various
capacity and size. The entire Electricity distribution network will be through an intelligent
transmission and distribution topology.
Solar power is gaining more prominence with the introduction of micro grid and decentralized
power plants. The integration of Solar power generation in to Smart Grid will allow
higher flexibility to have localized and right sized power plant with reduced transmission loss, less
complexity, zero environmental concerns, and higher efficiency. During 2012 summer in Germany,
the peak solar power generation touched 20 GW. The presence of micro grid is very much required
in the wake of recent northern grid failure in India (largest power outage in history).
In reality still a long way to go for the deployment of the Smart Grid. The integration of
existing technologies, with the new ones, and the integrated testing and validation of both
technologies to demonstrate their benefits are very much important to arrive at a consensus among
all partner organizations. New standards must be developed and some of the existing standards
would undergo changes. It is the time for all power sector manufacturers, utility service providers
and individuals to start aligning towards smart thinking for the smarter grid. This ensures the future
products and services cater the market demand that the new energy value chain is going to
generate. This will benefit the society through green environment and the world with better economy
by enabling the plug and play distributed energy resources.
Smart Grid - Centralized and Distributed sources with consumer integration
Challenges in Solar power generation:
• High initial cost
• More dependant on sunny weather
• Occupies more space for PV panel installation
• Less efficiency in energy conversion
Continuous research and development are ongoing to tackle the above mentioned challenges to
improve the solar power generation. The Concentrated Solar Power plants (CSP), Solar power
tower, Pokeberries coated fiber-based solar cells for improved conversion efficiency, transformer
less inverter and Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technology are some of the technological
developments in solar power generation to overcome or to reduce the impact of the above listed
drawbacks.
Industries
Buildings
Residential
Bi-directional flow
of energy AND data
Distributed and
intermittent generation
Transmission
Distribution Commercial and industrial
Flexible
distribution
Centralized
Power
Generation
Renewable energy
plants
Decentralized
Renewable energy
plants
There are several international groups like IEEE (IEEE P2030), IEC (IEC 61850, IEC
61968/970, IEC TC57) are working towards development of guidelines and standards in
association with the group of manufacturers for the future smart grid Technology. Among the
above standards, IEC 61850 is originally designed for substation automation whereas smart grid
application of IEC 61850 is also meant for Wide Area Phasor Measurements and Protection,
SCADA Communications, Distributed Energy Resources, and Impact of meter models. The scope
of Common Information Model can be extended to new Smart Grid Standards which define
objects and relationships.
The cost benefit of smart grid along with renewable energy sources through
environmental impact is huge and hence the environmental benefits will generate billions of
revenue every year. Every unit of energy saved by efficient performance of the smart grid will
result in reduced expenditure on pollution controls at power plants. It has been found that benefits
of the smart grids mainly depend upon System optimization and integration of renewables,
whereas End-user energy management will contribute a least percentage.
References:
[1]. Energy Future Coalition, “Challenge and Opportunity: Charting a New Energy Future,” Appendix
A: Working Group Reports, Report of the Smart Grid Working Group.
(www.energyfuturecoalition.org)
[2]. A Vision for The Smart Grid, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability by the National
Energy Technology Laboratory, June 2009.
[3]. www.solarthermalworld.org
[4]. www.reuk.co.uk
[5]. www.mnre.gov.in
[6] http://smartgrid.ieee.org/
[7] NIST Smart Grid Framework 1.0, Sep 2009

Alexander the Great's Last 3 Wishes

 

 

            Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit him to reach his distant homeland.

So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail."

With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.
1) "My first desire is that", said Alexander,
"My physicians alone must" carry my coffin." 

 

2) After a pause, he continued, 

"Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury".

 

3) The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued.

"My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin".

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dared bring the question to their lips.. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart.

"O king, we assure you that all your wishes will be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said:

"I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.

Lessons to be learnt from last 3 wishes of King Alexander...

I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor on this earth can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death.

So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the path to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life Greed of Power, earning riches but cannot take anything with me.

Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world".

With these words, the king closed his eyes.

Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. . . .

LESSON TO LEARN:

Remember, your Health is in your own hands, look after it.

Wealth is only meaningful if you can share and also enjoy

While you are still alive, kicking & healthy.

What you do for yourself, dies with you.

But what you do for others will live for ever.

Leave the “Legacy” behind.

Recent Grid Failure will open doors for Solar Power??

The spotlight on India's recent electric grid failure on July 30 and 31 has been determined the world's largest blackout. This event will no doubt spur some movement toward efficiency and discipline. India requires new and innovative thinking and effectiveness through structural change. This is also the time to focus on renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaics.

“India is the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy sources and, if properly utilized, India can realize its place in the world as a great power,” said Jeremy Rifkin, an economist and activist, in New Delhi in January, “but political will is required for the eventual shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”

Even if 10% of India’s energy needs can be met by solar, it would be a huge contribution in taking the edge off peak load on the existing grid.
Solar panel prices have dropped by over 50% during the past year, and those of the supporting hardware — including cables, connectors, inverters — will continue to drop at a slower rate. Overall, system prices now are practically at “grid parity” — the price per unit of electricity is comparable to the price of coal-based power.

This is especially the case when the costs of greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, an “externality” until now, are taken into account. And we are even closer to grid parity when the average price includes the unsubsidized cost of diesel-based generation, frequently used when power fails.

The attributes of the two kinds of electricity are different, however — one is polluting and causes global warming, the other is clean. One is continuous, and the other is intermittent. Yet the two can work with synergy, as net metering solutions work in the U.S. The “edge” solar power generating households contribute excess power to the grid during sunny days and draw from the grid when the sun does not shine. The net electricity bill for a solar power-generating household can be zero.

In India, not only can solar generation work as a complement to the grid as above, but it can also alleviate having 400 million citizens without electricity. In the age of smartphones, broadband, HD televisions and microwaves, this absence seems hard to believe. Many of these people live in rural areas where grid extension is not economical; solar energy for self-sufficiency is one immediate and affordable solution.
What are the costs of electricity’s absence? Lost opportunities for augmenting livelihood, children forced to study by candlelight or kerosene lamps, or not at all.

There are several solar energy solutions. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is mostly focused on using solar energy, like any other fuel source, to feed the grid. Typically, this is through concentrated solar solutions, and recently through photovoltaic panels due to price drops. Solutions that feed power to the grid are important, but they only augment an over-stressed grid — they do not help the millions without any grid power. The Ministry mostly ignores distributed generation, the solar self-sufficiency solutions like rooftop panels or community grids.

Clean energy technologies are in the middle of unprecedented innovations. Bloomberg New Energy Finance studies show the patent growth in this space has accelerated so much that, around 2005, clean energy patents surpassed the patents generated in all other technologies combined.

India can be a part of this innovation boom, but not unless the government gets out of the way. Innovations cannot be a command performance, wished into being by government fiat. Incentives and regulations can help, but not the creation of one more Government of India “undertaking,” or the creation of an Innovation Council comprised of distinguished people, but with an agenda that does not include renewable energy.

Article by Mahesh Bhave - IIM: On recent Grid failure in India

Fools

         Some people would have the opportunity to read good books, listen to good literature and few of them will still have the opportunity to be with good men. These people will generally think that people who do not seek such good things are fools. Most of them will have better thoughts and nothing more. And better thoughts, in a sense, is relative & temporary. They will turn ordinary when their company of books or men turn mediocre.

There are a set of people who are bent upon working hard in the world on something and striving to achieve something. They will think that above class of people who seek pleasures in good things and those who did not rise in material life or those who spend time in idle, are fools. They will even think that non-working people are a burden to the world.

There are yet another set of people who are happy spending their life in gossip of this or that or be just in family or just doing this or that without purpose. These people will think that life is to be enjoyed and all else is foolish. They will wish good for all till they are well placed in life. Without doubt, anyone who meets them, will have a view, "how foolish they are" and yet they will think others are, unfortunately fools.

Thus without doubt, in everyone's view, anyone who does not fall in line with their own views, is a fool.

Indian Stretchable Time (IST)

I happened to read an article with this title (IST), I am loving it, thought of sharing with good intention…enjoy reading.

Extract: We love to keep people waiting; we take immense pleasure in missing deadlines and appointments, and we revel in habitual tardiness.  When it comes to punctuality, we Indians are the worst offenders. A delayed arrival beyond the expected time has always made me feel guilty and have made good use of the mobile phone to keep the hostess informed, including a request that others need not wait but start on their meal or programme.

            Thinking back on pre-mobile phone days, it is possible that people were compelled to be more punctual.  The mobile phone is certainly an invention that has contributed to the lack of punctuality in people, but it also has its uses.  At least it helps to keep those who are waiting informed that the expected guests will be a little late.

            In the competition for the Numero Uno position between India and China, the general feeling is that China is racing ahead because it is not a democracy and people can be bludgeoned into delivering!  But more than being bludgeoned, I think that the Chinese have a sense of punctuality with regard to deliverables, which is sadly lacking among our country men.  The only time the people were probably conscious of punctuality was during the times of Mrs Gandhi’s infamous Emergency.  ( I have not seen, only heard about this).

            Starting from Tailor, builder, carpenter, house maid, vegetable vendor to suppliers to companies, are not bothered to stick on to the commitment.  Such things would never come to pass in a First World country.  Here, professionalism is the most important virtue to stay in business and no “swalpa adjust maadi” would work.  The driver of a suburban train in Tokyo will profusely apologies if he is delayed, even by a few seconds, once in a blue moon.  The time is ripe; we have to march fast in the race to secure Numero Uno personally and professionally.  Lets declare an emergency and call for a ban on Indian Stretchable Time (IST).