Renewable energy is a type of energy that does not deplete with time. Examples include solar power, tidal, wind, and geothermal. It is available everywhere and replenished by nature. It emits less greenhouse and helps achieve sustainability. Other advantages of renewable energy include less dependence on fossil fuels and lower delivery costs.
Renewable energy needs advanced balancing and manufacturing capacity management, unlike fuel-based energy stations. Smart grids achieve them by integrating conventional power grids with smart system management.
What is Smart Grid?
Smart grids are electricity networks that detect and respond to change. It uses information technology (IT), communication networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These integrations help to check supply and make adjustments according to demand.
It has a bi-directional flow to data and electricity. This helps in providing an active response and keeping things operational. Also, it detects and reacts to any change in electricity usage.
It is important to note that electricity consumption has increased due to population demand and technological use. The market becomes difficult to manage if left untreated. Smart Grid supports the shift towards sustainable technologies like microgrids and distributed generation. Enough attention from policymakers and researchers is crucial to increase its adoption.
What is IoT Technology?
IoT describes physical objects that exchange data with other systems over the internet. IoT makes the everyday routine smart. It transforms all operations from medical to production and security. IoT also integrates with machine learning. So, it enhances functions and increases its application in different fields.
How IoT Enables Smart Grid
Smart grids integrate with IoT to provide next-generation solutions to traditional practices. It connects with wireless devices to enhance communication. Also, it empowers consumers to make effective decisions related to energy usage. IoT-enabled smart grids help cities to reduce electricity expenses and consumption. Also, it allows the power management team to reduce the time and restore power after a blackout.
IoT-enabled smart grid applications include:
- Increased affordability
- Less power consumption
- Wireless radio frequency
- Cellular feature
- Disaster preparation
- Better customer service
- Prompt decision-making
- Upgraded ageing technology.
How IoT-enabled Smart Grids Boost Sustainable Renewable Energy
Smart grids support varying power supplies from renewable sources. It accepts inputs from places that generate power via wind and solar panels. With smart meters, it tracks net energy production. Also, it monitors solar panels and equipment to ensure stability. It allows systems to receive power from renewable sources.
IoT-enabled smart grids support the dependency on renewable energy to produce electricity. To further elaborate, solar farms store excess electricity via battery. It cannot generate the same amount of electricity in cloudy weather conditions. Conventional electricity grids do not support such limitations of using renewable energy.
With an IoT-enabled smart grid, we can achieve an uninterrupted power supply. The reason is we can switch from renewable to long-established power plants.
Top 3 Contributions of IoT-enabled Smart Grids Towards Promoting Adoption of Renewable Energy
There are different ways through which IoT-enabled smart grids boost renewable energy. According to the latest research, we have extracted the greatest contributions below:
– Provide a Stable and Intelligent Electric Power Grid:
There is a need to create a reliable and intelligent electric power grid. It can contribute to technological breakthroughs, increased renewable energy integration, and transportation electrification. IoT-enabled smart grids are crucial in maximizing the production and distribution of power.
The energy mix includes both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Its optimization is a crucial factor. Smart grids allow the integration of fluctuating renewable energy into the grid. It boosts sustainable energy production and supply with no need for fossil fuels. Also, it provides advanced infrastructure for greater use of renewable energy.
Additionally, smart grids provide two-way communication among all stakeholders. It results in high involvement and active engagement. On the other hand, smart grids have dynamic and interactive power delivery systems. This enables stakeholders to regulate energy production and consumption.
Smart grids are fundamental for an intelligent, efficient, robust, and reliable power system. Smart grids optimize energy generation and improve the integration of renewable energy. It makes smart grids essential to the energy transition to a sustainable future.
Provide Support to Communities on Small Islands:
Small islands face challenges related to energy generation, consumption, and distribution. The reasons are vulnerability to climate change, isolation, and limited areas.
Also, power grids are changing on small islands. It is due to the increased production of distributed renewable energy. End-users can share renewable energy with the idea of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). But the use of RES plants without effective management may compromise grid security. In these circumstances, smart grids are essential for promoting the use of RECs.
An example is the study of the Italian island of Pantelleria. RECs with smart grids provide flexible resource management with maximized shared energy.
PV systems help to change the island’s load profile. It increases the least load, lowers the power peak, and improves the load factor. They provide efficient control of storage systems and batteries.
On small islands, IoT-enabled smart grids are crucial for supporting RECs. Smart grids can resolve grid stability and security concerns. Also, they optimize the management of renewable energy generation, storage, and distribution.
Assist in Building Smart Cities:
Smart grids aid the development of smart cities powered by renewable energy. So, it supports sustainable energy production, distribution, and consumption in smart cities. IoT-enabled smart grids provide wireless networking, data analytics, and automation.
The adoption of smart grids may enhance the worldwide proportion of renewable energy. The power industry may increase from 26% in 2018 to 55% in 2030. Smart grids maximize the integration of renewable resources like solar and wind. So, it guarantees a steady supply of clean energy.
Smart grids also make it possible to use energy storage devices. Energy storage may integrate into smart networks. It allows effective absorption and distribution of excess renewable energy.
Furthermore, we can start to demand response programs with smart girds. It may lower peak electricity consumption by up to 20%. Also, we can save 71 billion kilowatt-hours of energy by 2030.
Conclusion
IoT-enabled smart grids are a key player in the deployment of renewable energy. It helps to optimize the integration of renewable sources into the electricity system. Also, regulating energy storage and consumption in real-time is possible. It lowers operating costs while improving grid stability, reliability, and efficiency. Additionally, it enables grid balancing and seamless integration of distributed energy supplies. Other benefits include self-healing, fault detection, and predictive maintenance capabilities. It also helps to reduce downtime and enhance grid performance. IoT-enabled smart grids support a sustainable and decentralized energy system. So, it bridges the gap between producing and using renewable energy.
