Chapter 4

4. Smart Grid Technologies and Standards

4.1 Introduction:

4.1.1 Need for Smart Grids:

The electrical infrastructure of the present day has remained largely unchanged over the last
100 years. And while the grid infrastructure has been ageing, the demand for electricity has
steadily increased. The electric power distribution network of the day is very complex and ill-
suited to the needs of the 21st century.

To point out a few deficiencies: lack of automated analysis, mechanical switches causing
slow response times, lack of situational awareness, etc. [13]. These have led to blackouts
which have happened over the course of the last 40 years.

Consequently, a new grid infrastructure is essential to address the challenges such as energy
storage problems, equipment failures, the global climate change, one-way communication
and resilience problems. In the smart grid, reliable and real-time information becomes the key
factor for reliable delivery of power from the generating units to the end-users.

The impact of equipment failures, capacity constraints, and natural accidents, which cause
power disturbances and outages, can be largely avoided by online power system condition
monitoring, diagnostics and protection. [14]

Fig 10 below shows that the Smart gird infrastructure increases the capacity and flexibility of
the network and provides advanced sensing and control through modern communications
technologies.

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