Letter to the Editor: Smart Grid Initiatives in India

Abstract

The Indian power industry is one of the fastest growing sectors and needs a paradigm shift through next-generation automation to handle the operational challenges. Presently, the Indian power sector possesses a number of issues, such as minimizing transmission and distribution losses, power theft, inadequate grid infrastructure, low metering efficiency, and lack of awareness etc. This gap can only be bridged by bringing smart grid initiatives into the Indian power industry.     

Letter to the Editor: A Brief Overview of Nanotechnology Applications in Smart Power Grid

Abstract

The smart power grid is the future conversion for the methods and strategies of production and consuming of electrical energy and the interaction between all the components of power grid. The smart power grid rate of achievement is accelerating with the fast growth of related technologies. Nanotechnology science is a trend in improvement and changing of material characteristics, behavior, and cost. Application of nanotechnology in electrical energy production and storage is in the early stages of development and research. This article presents a brief overview for recent and expected advancements in the smart power grid in the environment of nanotechnology discoveries, specifically describing applications and benefits of nanotechnology in photovoltaic cells, wind turbines, fuel cells, plug-in electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and smart sensors. The use of nanotechnology in smart grid power electronics, computing, and communications is also introduced. This overview gives a promising outline for the future smart grid.     

Letter to the Editor: Stability Concerns in Smart Grid with Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies

Abstract

The environmental concerns due to conventional power plants have given impetus for widespread utilization of renewable energy based distributed generation technologies. As a consequence, the concepts pertaining to a smart grid with advanced functional architecture are evolving to incorporate these technologies. Many such smart grid strategies are focused on maximum utilization of renewable energy sources compared to conventional fossil or nuclear fuels for meeting real-time load demand. The diverse characteristics of renewable energy based distributed generation technologies compared to conventional power plants have led to many operational stability concerns for the smart grid. This article discusses these stability concerns in smart grid with distributed generation technologies.