https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7049-8153
World population has been increasing rapidly. This has led to increased demand on instant supply of information and services in real-time. Smart Grid (SG), Internet of things (IoT) and 5 G/6G will come in handy in this. The book in review will be based on Smart Grid and technologies that enable it to work efficiently. Smart grid has become topic of interest in the 21st century. Thus, this book be of great interest to those learning the topic at hand. We will take a look it on chapter-by-chapter basis.
Chapter 1
Basic introduction and evolution of power system and grid communications. Basic drivers for the smart grid concept are reviewed along with the SG definitions, elements and characteristics. Historical transformation from conventional grid to smart grid. Complexity, information theory, components of smart grid communication and challenges are extensively introduced and reviewed. Smart grid enabling technologies, actions for shifting toward SG paradigm, advantages and cost are a core theme throughout the book.
Chapter 2
Renewable energy is one of the key components of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, also known as the “Affordable and Clean Energy” goal, aims to ensure access to clean and affordable energy for all by 2030. This goal is crucial for the development of various sectors, including agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare, and transportation (Reference: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/energy/, accessed on 27/1/2024). The smart grid cannot be understood without placing renewable energy and its technology in its fundamental context. Renewable energy sources are described. The growth, investments, merits and renewable energy deployment into SG are reviewed. Technical, financial and societal integration challenges are also discussed in details. Renewables grid-connection enables are introduced.
Chapter 3
In this chapter, the authors extensively review PV and wind systems and their interface power electronics technologies. The purpose and benefits of the power electronics converters for distributed generation are reviewed. The authors deeply discuss power electronics for grid-connected AC Smart Grid. Power grid system components that play a role in the power electronics enabled autonomous AC power system are progressively introduced and intensively. Power electronics enabled autonomous DC power system are also discussed.
Chapter 4
This chapter discusses energy storage. Good energy storage systems have a huge potential to alleviate grid congestions that seem to have gone against sustainable development goals. Appropriate energy storage system will improve engineering of renewable energy systems. With this “the chapter extensively review PV and wind systems and their interface power electronics technologies.” The chapter also tackles barriers related to standards, regulations and market frameworks that govern the traditional and current power electric grids. Other technical barriers are discussed. Integrating energy storage system into the electric grid as a possibility of adding exibility to the modern grid is also discussed intensively.
Chapter 5
The authors lay the foundation for further discussion of microgrids as they discuss the fundamentals of microgrid generation systems. Microgrids, their different boundaries and metrics are discussed. The authors also comprehensively present the differences between DC and AC microgrids. These grids have been gaining attention both “in academic and industrial fields as an effective solution for the increasing energy and environmental problems” as per the sustainable development goals like SDG#13. Comprehensive reviews of the future power grid that will directly touch the consumer are discussed. Microgrids are an important concept for securing the future high energy demands and it speed up deployment of the Smart Grid. The chapter also discusses the challenges facing microgrids and possible solutions.
Chapter 6
This chapter is dedicated to smart transportation. Therefore, it gives a comprehensive introduction, electric vehicle types, configurations, battery technologies, power conversion and charging technologies are discussed extensively. In addition, powertrain architectures, battery technology, battery charger technology, vehicle to grid (V2G) concepts, barriers to EV adoption and possible solutions, and the trends for future developments are presented.
Chapter 7
Here, the concept of Net Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) is introduced and its attraction to the academics and practicing engineers is also presented. The authors present how nZEB concept will reduce energy consumption in the building sector. An optimized nZEB designed for possible integration of renewable energy resources and the application of smart energy management algorithms. Several designs using passive and active energy saving and energy efficient algorithms are hereby described and discussed. Modeling methods, simulation programs and integrating optimization in all of the design steps of the nZEB are discussed extensively. The chapter also has Net Zero Energy Community (nZEC) discussed as a solution for the mismatch between on-site renewable energy generation and nZEB demand. The author conclude with a discussion regarding benefits, barriers, current investments and different targets for the nZEB.
Chapter 8
This chapter looks at Smart Grid Communication Infrastructures as Smart grids do offer multi-way for communication among energy generation, transmission, distribution, and usage facilities. Thus, information and communication technology in smart grid for management, regulation and energy consumption are discussed. The author present a discussion on advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) as well. In summary, the chapter presents technologies, applications, and challenges of smart metering and SG communication. They also present smart grid’s layered infrastructure, possible types of traffic on it and QoS conditions. They also demonstrated how wireless technologies can be integrated in such these infrastructures.
Chapter 9
The two main structure of the Smart Grid; SG infrastructure and SG applications are discussed. SG infrastructure three main layers; the power system layer, the information layer and the communication layer and the functions in the system are presented. The chapter also demonstrates how threats of cyber-attacks can lead to operational failures, loss of synchronization, damage power components, and loss of system stability. It is for this reason that the chapter is dedicated to information security on Smart Grid to boost grid efficiency, reliability and privacy at the SG’s sections from generation, transmission to distribution.
Chapter 10
Smart Grids are facing a deluge of data based on the array of challenges like carbon gas emission and increased expectations from the customers. This needs new approaches and techniques to be used to manage the big data. Therefore, the chapter discusses data management to provide “security for the used data, develops a backup and recovery system to prevent any loss in the data, improves the reliability to ensure system continuity and scalability to process a huge amount of data.”
Chapter 11
Demand-side management (DSM) is a management of the power grid through the consumer to the load itself. The myriad ways to achieve this include some require communication—demand response, and dynamic demand, when no communication is needed. These ways are discussed here. DSM has two classes; (i) reducing consumption; and (ii) shifting consumption which are also presented by the authors.
Chapter 12
The continuous shift toward a sustainable global energy system is expected to ignite decentralization of energy systems and dependency on renewable energy will double up if not triple. This trend will disrupt current business models. Such should lead to a profound reorganization of the energy sector. Thus, this chapter is dedicated to a sustainable business model concept and the necessary components. This concept should be able to check the impact of smart grid technology to create, deliver and capture the value of for utility businesses. The authors also present the value chain for both conventional and smart energy industries. Finally, different electricity markets are discussed.
Chapter 13
This chapter looks into Smart Grid customers’ acceptance and engagement. It therefore, presented to energy system researchers and policy/decision makers with discussion on the main drivers of customer acceptance of the Smart Grid. Policymakers should engage consumers effectively for the latter to accept and embrace integration of smart grids. The SG customer is also informed, adjusting how they use and purchase electricity. Their choices, incentives, and disincentives on how to adjust their purchasing patterns and behaviour are also discussed in detail.
Chapter 14
Here, the authors review how Cloud Computing can be incorporated into the Smart Grid architecture. They explore how energy distribution system can be made reliable and effective with using end-user devices. This is based on the fact that a clouding computing architecture are cost-effective and computational resources like memory and storage of Big Data for energy management.
Chapter 15
This chapter is a review study that outlines the common emerging Artificial Intelligence- driven edge computing for Smart Grid operations. The authors demonstrate how case studies and literatures support hybridization and assembling AI techniques to give high accuracy and robustness of a smart grid network. How AI deployment can pave way for large smart grid expansion is also discussed.
Chapter 16
This chapter is dedicated to simulation tools for validating smart grid designs. Simulation is define as “an approximate imitation of the operation of process or system; that represents its operation over time”. The authors describe in detail multi-domain simulation, co- simulation, and other approaches for the smart grid. SG planning and analysis software {PSCAD, PowerWorld Simulator, ETAP, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, OpenDSS, GridLab-D and their advantages and disadvantages are reviewed in detail.
Chapter 17
The chapter reviews the need for both National and International standards that are needed to facilitate and speed the deployment of smart grid technologies in the preexisting and the next generation power grid. Works on these standards done by various working groups under different organizations are also summarized. Smart grid policies from some countries are presented.
Chapter 18
Smart Grid Challenges and Barriers are presented as depletion of fossil fuel is expected and global warming is a growing concern and many governments are necessitated to shift to carbon-free energy technologies. The concept of migro-grids are also presented here.
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