A smart grid is a system that combines traditional power grids with information and communication technologies to maximize energy efficiency. The increased use of renewable energy and real-time power management promotes environmental protection and economic benefits, but there are also potential risks, such as security issues.
If you look at the news these days, it’s often related to energy. In the movie industry, a movie about oil drilling, “7 Wells,” was recently released, and the Dokdo territorial dispute, which has been a global topic for a long time, is also an energy dispute. This is because of a new energy source called methane hydrate, which is known to be deposited in large amounts around Dokdo. Meanwhile, in the automobile market, hybrid cars that use electricity and oil at the same time to increase fuel efficiency are all the rage. In addition, Korea is particularly sensitive to energy, as it produces very little oil, so we need to reduce energy use and use the energy that is produced efficiently. Most of our energy comes in the form of electricity, which is easy to use. The path that connects this energy from the power plant to the consumer is called the power grid, and most countries, including Korea, use an old power grid. Nowadays, the smart grid, an intelligent power grid that can optimize energy efficiency by integrating information and communication technology into the conventional power grid, is emerging in electrical engineering. This technology is not a story of the distant future, but since this year, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has been designated as a pilot city and is applying smart grid technology. Smart grid technology is being applied even now. If you go to the pilot complex on Jeju Island, you can experience how smart grid will change our lives. What are the benefits of these smart grid technologies and how will they change our lives?
These technological advances aren’t just about improving efficiency, they’re also making a big contribution to solving environmental problems. The utilization of smart grids makes it possible to provide the same power supply while consuming fewer energy resources, which ultimately leads to a reduction in carbon emissions. With climate change becoming an increasingly important global issue, technologies like smart grids can do more than just save energy, they can also help protect the planet. In particular, the revitalization of smart grids based on renewable energy, rather than traditional fossil fuel-based energy production, will be essential to ensure a sustainable future.
First of all, smart grids enable two-way communication about electricity. It’s like how we used to be able to communicate with each other over the phone, but nowadays we can only receive information one way. In other words, we only receive electricity from the power plant, but with the smart grid, distributed power sources can connect to the grid and send energy to the power plant. This means that you can sell the excess energy from your home’s solar power system, or the excess energy from your electric car. These changes may not be necessary for individuals. However, the fact that electricity can now be provided by a variety of providers, rather than only by national utilities, makes it easier for new players to provide alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy. This means that the use of alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, solar, and geothermal, will increase, as most of our energy is currently produced using environmentally harmful methods such as nuclear and coal.
As these alternatives take off, the distribution of energy resources will become more decentralized and less dependent on national energy sovereignty. For example, many countries currently rely heavily on resources such as oil and natural gas, but if smart grids allow for the decentralized production of renewable energy such as solar and wind, they will be less likely to get caught up in wars or conflicts over energy resources. This is why it’s important for countries to have the technological foundation to generate the energy they need within their borders and use it efficiently.
Meanwhile, smart grid technology allows for real-time measurement of overall electricity usage. This is made possible by using Power Line Communication technology. Until now, new communication lines, such as telephone lines or fiber optic cables, had to be installed to communicate. However, with this technology, it is possible to communicate by sending a modulated signal through a power line with alternating current, which is then demodulated and received by the receiver. It is like sending a coded letter through a water pipe with water flowing through it, and the recipient interprets it to know the meaning. Until now, we have been able to know the amount of electricity used on a monthly basis through the meter readings of each electricity user, but this will be available on a national scale in real time through power line communication technology. How will this change our lives? First, we will be able to charge different electricity rates for different times of the day. Utilities can charge higher rates during peak hours and lower rates during off-peak hours because they know how much electricity is being used in real time. From the consumer’s point of view, time-of-day pricing can be used to postpone electricity use, such as charging an electric vehicle, until later in the day when electricity is cheaper.
Second, efficient energy usage measurement will enable efficient power generation. Until now, power plants have continued to generate more than a certain level of electricity because they don’t know the exact amount of electricity they use. If the power supply becomes insufficient, large-scale blackouts occur, so we produce more power than is actually being used. However, if energy usage can be measured efficiently, power generation capacity can be adjusted efficiently, reducing the need to build new power plants. According to the Korean government, a total of KRW 2.3 trillion worth of new power plants could be avoided by 2030. This not only saves capital, but also reduces environmental pollution.
