Smart Grid in IoT is basically an electricity network comprising a system of hardware, infrastructural and software possibilities. It enables two-way interaction between all the system components and also provides optimal power generation and its efficient sharing.

Smart grid in general is a self-sufficient disbursement ecosystem. It can therefore, provide energy from various power generation sources, like storages and other renewables. Furhtermore, its implementation enables consumers and provders with great capabilties of control and management.

What is Smart Grid?

Smart Grid is basically the culmination of 21st century telecommunication and information technologies and 20th century traditional electrical power-supply grid. This cooperation thus, enables optimal resource usage to make efficient energy consumption. And also, to put and control disbursed energy sources.

In layman words, making smart grids include protecting future power supply when there is a limited power generation capacity.

Thus, smart grids reduce losses, optimize energy demand disbursement, increase efficiency and even makes huge scale renewable energy installations practical.

Smart Grid Technologies

There are various technologies which are to be used together in order to make smart grids more reliable and efficient than today.

  • Joined/Integrated Communications

This provides real-time control and information management.

  • Measurement and Sensing

These technologies are utilized for accurate responses and providing faster assistance like bill generation, remote controlling, and management of demand.

  • Modern Components

These are used for R&D in storage, diagnostics, power electronics, and super conductivity.

  • Newfangled Control Methods

Used to manage essential components, provide precise solutions and faster diagnosis.

  • Enhanced Interfaces

Enhanced Interfaces have been worked upon to speed up futuristic approaches, changing grid operators and also human decision-making.

How Smart Grid Works

Smart grids are sophisticated networks implying many two-way interactions between participants and devices in the supply chain. Thus, this structure allows various scenarios of generating power and moving, using and managing it.

1. Generation

Switch to the smart grid enables the consumers to use the generated power generated from various different sources.

2. Disbursement

The multitudes of substations, transmission lines and automated distribution systems transform the generated power into the correct voltage as needed for disbursement among the consumers.

3. Use

Consumers get broad power management capabilities and visibility thanks to smart grid applications such as smart meters, sensor-enabled appliances, smart sockets, plugs, etc.

How Smart Grid Works

4. Control

People, utility companies and other professionals in the energy industry expand their control and management capabilities in a smart grid.  Thanks to data analytics and visualization tools, energy consumption data is turn into insights that make the basis for future decisions.

5. Store

Not only do households practice a more prudent energy use, but also store enough power to provide a house in the off-grid scenario. Using storage, households save extra energy, choose the loads they need to back up and use this energy in the case of an outage, for example.

Usage of IoT in Smart Grid

As you can see, the role of IoT in smart gird is crucial. Internet of Things is in large part the enabler of smart gird as its technological and infrastructural components are mostly IoT-base.

Connected devices, appliances, hubs

The data on energy consumption comes from sensor-enable IoT devices, is use to analyze electricity usage, calculate cost, remotely control appliances, make decisions on load distribution, recognize devices, detect malfunctions and risks of an outage, etc.

Smart Grid in IoT

Real-time data analytics and visualization

As mentioned above, sensor data is the core of the smart grid operation. Work with data enables automation, control, management, problem detection and prediction in a smart grid.

Advanced algorithms

Application of machine learning to better understand and use big data is already common in the Internet of Things, and smart grid is not an exception. The use of advanced algorithms to analyze IoT data created in the smart grid supply chain is a way to further make it more efficient.

IoT Applications in Smart Grid

IoT Applications in Smart Grid

Some examples of IoT applications in smart grids are :

  • Germany has implemented a smart grid project in Mannheim. This project enabled the wide adoption of renewable energy and has enabled coordination among energy consumption and production in the city.
  • Lumin energy management platform is a good example of IoT application in smart grid. It enables cost savings, reduced emissions and easier adoption of green energy at the same time. Thus, the company offers data analytics tools and a smart panel in order to optimize storage and electricity consumption. And also, to facilitate the connection of PV systems in homes.
Smart Grid in IoT

WRAPPING UP

Through this article I Hope to have thus made you aware of What a Smart Grid is? What are its applications in various fields? What are the many terms and technologies associated with it? And other related questions of importance.

If by chance I may have missed out on any question, or if there is any query of yours. Then, please feel free to write your queries and comments in the comment box. And, I will be there willingly waiting to answer your queries and clear your concepts henceforth.

Until then bidding you ta-ta and also wishing you a Blessed and prosperous and Health Happy New Year !!! Hurray !!!

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