The current electricity grid is transforming into a smarter grid a.k.a, Smart Grid (SG). One of the major goals of the SG is to move towards 100% electricity generation from RERs, i.e., towards a 100% renewable grid. In fact, rising energy costs, losses in the present-day electricity grid, risks from nuclear power generation, and global environmental changes are motivating a transformation of the conventional ways of generating electricity.
Globally, there is a desire to rely more on renewable energy resources (RERs) for electricity generation. RERs reduce greenhouse gas emissions and may have economic benefits, e.g., through applying demand side management with dynamic pricing so as to shift loads from fossil fuel-based generators to RERs. However, the disparate, intermittent, and typically widely geographically distributed nature of RERs complicates the integration of RERs into the SG. Moreover, individual RERs have generally lower capacity than conventional fossil-fuel plants, and these RERs are based on a wide spectrum of different technologies. This paper provides an overview of recent efforts that aim to integrate RERs into the SG. It outlines the integration of RERs into the SG along with their supporting communication networks. The paper also discusses ongoing projects that seek to integrate RERs into the SG around the globe. Finally, future research directions on integrating RERs into the SG are outlined.
Publication Title: Integrating Renewable Energy Resources into the Smart Grid: Recent Developments in Information and Communication Technologies
Authors: Mubashir Husain Rehmani, Martin Reisslein, Abderrezak Rachedi, Melike Erol Kantarci, and Milena Radenkovic,
Journal: The IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics (to appear, 2018).
