EURELECTRIC Conference
“Smart Grids – From Policy to Implementation”
Brussels,19 May 2009
Hotel
Radisson Royal SAS, Brussels
Session IV – Smart Grids – The way forward
John Eli Nielsen, Associate Professor at the Centre for Electric
Technology of the Technical University of Denmark, looked into
the future of microgrids - defined as “interconnection of small modular
generation to low voltage distribution systems forming a new type of power
system which can be connected to the main power network or be operated islanded
in a coordinated, controlled way.” The advantage offered by a microgrid, he pointed out,
is to improve the reliability of the energy system, offering network benefits,
increasing energy efficiency, minimising overall energy consumption,
offering cost-efficient replacement strategies for electricity infrastructure
and improving the overall environmental impact, Prof Nielsen explained.
Manuel Sanchez Jimenez of the European Commission’s Directorate-General
for Energy expressed the Commission’s views on innovative and competitive
challenges to the deployment of smart grids, pointing out that while there
is a “general recognition of the benefits” of implementing smart grids and
that smart grids will be technically feasible within the next decade,
nevertheless “how this evolution is going to take place is not totally clear at the moment”.
Mr Sanchez identified some reasons why large-scale deployment of smart grids has not happened yet,
especially noting the unwillingness of some Member States to move forward independently and
the limited number of pilot experiments carried out so far. However, the Commission has increased
support for research and pilot actions as from 2002, is providing support under the European
Technology Platform since 2005; is looking at a European Industrial Initiative on Electricity
Grids under the EU Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan; and has a mandate from the Member
States to work on European standards enabling interoperability of meters, he told the audience.
“The consumer needs to provide us with information, as there is not enough observability”,
Miguel Sanchez Fornie, Director of Control Systems and Telecommunications
at Spanish energy company Iberdrola, told the conference as he focussed on the consumer
and the role that consumers can play in the process of rolling out smart grids. However,
the real problem lies in the fact that “even though the offer may be flexible, the demand remains passive”.
Mr Sanchez predicted that the massive use of telecommunication and information technologies will foster
a more active demand side that will interact with the power production side in real time.
“It is clear that networks will have to play a fundamental role in this”, he concluded.
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