文摘
Energy is a major driver of developments in human society. Naturally, the energy efficiency of power grids qualifies as an important topic. Half a century old, the world's power grids are due for a major overhaul. The envisioned energy-efficient, environment-friendly, distributed-generation-friendly, demand-response-friendly, self-healing power grid is called the smart grid. This article is intended as a primer on the control and communication techniques that form the basis of several smart grid subsystems, namely distributed generation, wide-area monitoring, distribution automation, and substation automation. The theme of this article is to show how these techniques contribute to the efficiency of the generation, transmission, and distribution segments of a grid. Potential research challenges and opportunities are indicated. To complement our technical discussion, noteworthy smart grid developments in Australia (one of the world's top investors in smart grids) are highlighted.
