• Imraan Mohamed

• Regional Marketing Director ,

Sub Saharan Africa

• Itron

• South Africa

Technology Trends that

are Transforming Smart

Grid Strategy

CONTENTS

• Why Smart Grids?

• Smart Grid Strategies (Developing Regions)

• Smart Grid Technologies

• Technology Maturity Levels

• Technology Trend Example: Last Mile

Communication Network Technology

• Summary of Key Takeaways

• Conclusion

The Challenging World of Energy We are in the midst of a Global Energy Transformation

» Renewables increase

» Emergence of storage

» Decentralization of energy

» De-carbonization incentives

» Shale gas and shoal oil increase

» New business models and new entrants

» New emerging and converging technologies

» Utility balance sheets under pressure

» New competition, even from consumers!

Decreasing Utility Prices, wholesales trending to zero or negative

Increasing End Consumer Prices

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE CHANGING

“Smartening” the Grid is not a Single Project, Event or

technology

* Source: IEA 2011

WHY SMART GRIDS?

• Accommodates various generation and storage options

• Provides the power quality for the range of needs

• Optimises asset utilisation and operating efficiency

• Provides resiliency to disturbances, attacks and natural disasters

• Enables informed participation by end customers

• Enables new products, services and markets

SMART GRID STRATEGIES • Countries/Regions will choose their own strategies

and priorities for adopting smart grid technologies.

• Characteristics to consider in any regional

assessment: – Current and planned mix of supply, including fossil, nuclear and

renewable generation.

– Current and future demand; the sector contribution to demand;

Sectors -> large industries, commercial and manufacturing industry,

residential load prevalence and sub segments, or the deployment of

electric vehicles.

– Status of existing and planned new transmission and distribution

networks.

– Ability to interconnect with neighbouring regions.

– Regulatory and Market Structure.

– Climatic conditions and Resource Availability.

SMART GRIDS in emerging economies and developing countries

• Under the correct conditions – emerging

economies could leap-frog directly to

some smart grid infrastructure.

• COMMUNITY-BASED MICRO GRIDS

EXPERIENCES IN RURAL KENYA is an

example of a strategy of using smart grid

technologies to accelerate electrification

to rural communities. * Source: IEA 2011

SMART GRID TECHNOLOGIES

• S3 – SG TECHNOLOGIES

KEY POINT: Smart grids encompass a variety of technologies that span the electricity system.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPEMENT

Wide Area Monitoring & Control

ICT Technology

Renewable Energy Integration

Transmission Enhancements

Distribution Grid Management

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

TECHNOLOGY AREA

Phasor Measurement Units (PMU), Sensors , WAMS,

PLC, RF Mesh, 34/4G, LTE IT and DATA innovations

PV, CSP, Large Scale Storage

Superconductors, FACTS, HVDC

Load Control , Automated re-closers, Line sensors, DMS,OMS

Smart Meters, MDM systems, IHD

DEVELOPEMENT

Customer Side Systems

TECHNOLOGY MATURITY Technology Area Maturity Level Development

Trend

Wide-area monitoring and control Developing Fast

Information and communications technology integration

Mature Fast

Renewable and distributed generation integration*

Developing Fast

Transmission enhancement applications** Mature Moderate

Distribution management Developing Moderate

Advanced metering infrastructure Mature Fast

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure Developing Fast

Customer-side systems Developing Fast

* - Battery storage technologies are less mature than other distributed energy technologies. ** - High Temperature Superconducting technology is still in the developing stage of maturity.

TECHNOLOGY TREND EXAMPLE

• Focus on ICT

ICT Technology PLC, RF Mesh,

• Subset of

communication

technologies

WHAT WILL THE FUTURE REQUIRE?

Operational Efficiency

Customer Engagement

Demand Response

Basic Analytics

Smart Metering

(AMI) Smart Grid

Smart Cities

& “IoT”

Dist. Resources & Microgrids

Renewables Integration

Distribution Automation

Peak Load Management

Grid Reliability/ Efficiency

Water Conservation

Sustainability

Economic Development

Quality of Life

Energy Efficiency

REAL WORLD CHALLENGES: LAST MILE COMMUNICATIONS

Distribution Area 1

PLC Concentrator

DT

Distribution Area 2

PLC Concentrator

DT

ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Single network solution incorporates two communications technologies -RF and PLC - on the same chip set

Continuously monitors network for most reliable and fastest communication path

Network dynamically self-selects best communication path, from available media and modulation schemes

Assured connectivity at highest available speed Performance to support applications beyond smart metering (i.e. smart grid, smart cities applications)

RF Mesh

Power Line Carrier (PLC)

EASE OF DEPLOYMENT BENEFITS • Simplified deployment

• Maximizes network coverage minimizes mitigation

– More options for connection (RF or PLC depending on best path)

• Assures connectivity at highest possible speed – Dynamic link (RF/PLC), modulation and data rate selection

• Building to building connectivity via RF, PLC, or Pilot Cable

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Co

st /

Dif

ficu

lty

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

ADAPTIVE

COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY Co

st /

Dif

ficu

lty RF-MESH ONLY

OR PLC ONLY

Lower Risk and Cost

SMART GRID TECHNOLOGIES

• S3 – SG TECHNOLOGIES

KEY POINT: Smart grids encompass a variety of technologies that span the electricity system.

SUMMARY OF KEY TAKE-AWAYS

• Smart Grid is not a single event, project or technology but it is a journey

• Smart Grid Strategies will vary from region to region depending on key drivers & priorities.

• Smart Grid Technologies span the entire electrical ecosystem and are at different levels of maturity and deployment.

• Note the importance of the communication infrastructure for the bigger vision (Smart Metering, Distribution Automation, Smart Cities, IoT and Societal Impact)

• Other Considerations: Regulation, Policy, Funding, Collaboration, Resources, Knowledge, etc

“ A well-designed smart grid will improve our quality of life, grow our economy, and drive the clean energy

revolution we need.”:

MIRIAM HORN Director, Smart Grid Initiative