The number of smart grid technology companies in the world is estimated to be around 150, 77.4% of which are based in the United States. In North America, nonresidential smart meter penetration is expected to be around 71.7% by 2020. The number of smart meter shipments in the United States is expected to increase to 13.3 million in the year 2016. By 2017, spending is expected to increase to around $3.3 billion. In 2014, spending on smart grid technologies stood at $2.5 billion. The market is driven by incentives from the federal government, which has funded R&D programs to the tune of billions of dollars. The smart grid technologies market in the United States is booming. There is also universal access to affordable, low-carbon electrical power generation and storage solutions. The system is capable of “learning” the unique behavior of power generation resources to optimize energy production and to automatically maintain voltage, frequency and power factor standards based on feedback from multiple points in the grid. Smart generation is another key component of a smart grid. There is also smart distribution characterized by automated monitoring and analysis tools, superconducting cables for long-distance transmission, self-healing, self optimization and self balancing. This makes detection of power outages, billing, data collection and dispatching of repair crews easier and faster. There are also smart substations that control critical and non-critical operational data, such as power factor performance, breaker, battery and transformer status.Īnother critical component of a smart grid is the smart power meter that is capable of two-way communication between the consumer and power provider. For instance, there are intelligent appliances that are capable of deciding when to consume power based on the pre-set user preferences. However, smart grids have parts that are more efficient in terms of design and functionality. Just like traditional grids, smart grids have a number of moving components. The technology aims to integrate and support renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydro, empower consumers with real-time information about their energy consumption and assist utility companies to reduce outages. The activities at ESmart would leverage the research, innovations and infrastructure resulting from over $15 million dollars of funded R&D to UCLA over the last five years through a variety of grants from the following: UCLA's participation in the $120M funded DOE Smart Grid Regional Demonstration grant to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in which UCLA is one of the partners Korea Institute for Energy Research Electric Power Research Institute California Energy Commission and various industry partners and donors.A smart grid is a modern power generation, transmission and distribution system that can automate and manage the increasing complexity and needs of electricity in the 21st century. This will enable achievement of a Modern Grid with greater amounts of solar and wind renewable energy resources, larger numbers of electric vehicles and batteries for energy storage, a more efficient, resilient, reliable and safe electric power grid, and one that serves the needs of the 21st Century customer. UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied ScienceĮSmart objectives include developing advanced technology, prototypes, demonstrations, and innovative products in the areas of smart grids, microgrids, grid-connected electric vehicles and autonomous electric vehicles, demand response, renewable energy - including solar and wind - integration, battery energy storage system (BESS) integration, smart appliances, smart homes and buildings, Internet of Things (IOT) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER). ESmart Energy for a Smart Grid Consortium
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