Programs such as the European Great Data Protection Act aims to reduce data abuse. However, smart technologies raise concerns over the harvesting of people’s data health, locational and personal data could be mishandled by those with access to it. Smart cities are necessary to facilitate the widespread connectivity that will allow self-driving cars and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to operate.
SMART GRIDS UPDATE
To update current infrastructure, large investments are required but are expected to pay off in the long term. Collecting such large volumes of data requires high speed internet networks. The number of connected devices to the Internet of Things is set to increase substantially, which includes wearable technology. This enables bi-directional communication and power flow that can. What is a smart grid The term smart grid (SG) is used to describe the integration of information and digital communication technologies with power grid systems. Even cities are gradually becoming connected to the Internet of Things with various measurement devices. The introduction of smart grids represents an opportunity to move the energy industry into a new era of efficiency. The agriculture, manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries are also harnessing solutions provided by cutting edge technology, data collection and computer power to improve operations. Grid technology is one aspect of a general trend towards smart technologies. Smart grid technologies include electrical supply grids that use connectivity, demand response, and renewable energy sources to increase energy efficiency. Asia Pacific will see the fastest growth and is expected to become the largest market for smart grid technology. The key regions incorporating smart grid technology includes North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Others in the top rankings are largely unchanged, while Dubai Electricity & Water Authority makes its entry to the top 10, with its advances in monitoring and control and security.Around the world, smart grid technology is growing steadily between 20, the global market is expected to triple in size reaching some 61 billion U.S. UK Power Networks, last year’s number one position holder, is unchanged in its score, and is now equalled with Consolidated Edison from the US and Taiwan Power Company, with the latter’s score also notably increased. Indeed Enedis now records best practices in all the dimensions except supply reliability. A smart grid is an electricity network that can integrate in a cost-efficient manner the behaviour and actions of all users connected to it (generators. The utility showed major improvements over the year having previously ranked 16th, in particular in data analytics, DER integration and security. The 2021 Smart Grid Index benchmarks a total of 86 utilities across 37 countries, with France’s Enedis achieving the number one position. Asia Pacific utilities, slower to start are fast catching up, with 26% of utilities having EV initiatives. Moreover, 45% of utilities globally are actively enabling the use of electric vehicles, having EV fleets and providing public charging infrastructure. Other findings are that globally 65% of utilities have solar and wind energy contributing more than 10% of system demand, an increase of 9% from the previous year, with the proportion of European utilities, which have been leading for the past 4 years, reaching 83%. in all except for ‘Supply reliability’ where notably it is about half of that of the other two regions.įactors driving the global smart meters marketĪsia Pacific utilities on the other hand showed the greatest improvement in supply reliability, while for the European utilities it was in security. North American utilities also showed the highest maturity levels in the other dimensions, ‘Monitoring and control’, ‘Data analytics’, ‘DER integration’, ‘Security’ and ‘Customer empowerment and satisfaction’, i.e. Globally, utilities improved the most in the ‘Green Energy’ dimension – one of the seven assessed – by 7%, with the North American utilities achieving a 10% improvement. The annual benchmarking from the Singapore power group records improvements during the past year in all three regions, with North American utilities continuing to lead in smart grid development but with European and Asian Pacific utilities close behind. SP Group’s annual Smart Grid Index indicates that grids are getting both smarter and greener in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.