Leading IEEE Journal Addresses Key Smart Grid Tech Issues; Prioritizes Challenges

PISCATAWAY, NJ, July 22, 2011 (Press-News.org) To convert a critical mass of drivers to electric vehicle (EVs), we must first drive market penetration by establishing policies to reduce ownership cost of (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). This is according to an update on the challenges to Smart Grid in a new issue of Proceedings of the IEEE. Electric vehicles (EVs), essential to Smart Grid's future, are considered one of the most promising ways to reduce fossil fuel dependence.

This Smart Grid special issue, "The Electric Energy System of the Future," published in the Proceedings of the IEEE which is the world's most highly-cited general-interest journal in electrical engineering and computer science since 1913, is one of the most comprehensive assessments of this topic to date.

According to authors of this 13-article report, the overall driving forces for Smart Grid, a fundamentally different energy system from the present one, are the new needs of more energy knowledgeable, computer savvy and environmentally conscious customers combined with regulatory changes, availability of more intelligent technologies and ever greater demands for enough energy to drive the global economy.

The report focuses on technological progress and acknowledges that, while much has been achieved to move Smart Grid forward, there is still a lot to be accomplished in three dominant areas: governmental policies at both federal and state levels, customer efficiency needs and new intelligent computer software and hardware technologies.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE UPDATE

In an article on (EVs), "Vehicle Electrification: Status and Issues," authors Albert G. Boulanger,
Andrew C. Chu, Suzanne Maxx and David L. Waltz concede while automakers recognize that electric vehicles are critical to the future of the industry, widespread consumer adoption of


EVs is inhibited not only by actual costs but perception of costs. For example, consumers must grasp that although the current initial price for EV's is higher than internal combustion vehicles, their operating costs are lower.

Other EV issues which need to be addressed to jump-start a transition to EVs include best practices for extraction and mining of rare earths and lithium; development and deployment of EV technologies; standardization of industry protocols of plugs and chargers; deployment of charging infrastructure; public education and national and global political will for the adoption of smart grid technology and renewable energy sources.

WIRELESS NETWORK CONCERNS

One of the most important challenges in Smart Grid is providing reliable last mile network communication, according to the paper "Multigate Communication Network for Smart Grid" by Hamid Gharavi, Fellow IEEE and Bin Hu, Member IEEE. The paper describes various techniques such as multigate, multi channel routing as well as a packet scheduling technique to enhance the network performance in terms of reliability, latency and throughput. According to the authors, "The results indicate that a combination of multipath routing and the backpressure-based packet-scheduling scheme can show a significant improvement in the network reliability, latency, and throughput performance."

CYBER SECURITY

Cyber security of the Smart Grid is another major priority, as noted in two papers in this special issue: "Challenges and Opportunities in Smart Grid: A Position Article" and "High Assurance Smart Grid: A Three-Part Model for Smart Grid Control Systems."

In the "Position" article by George W. Arnold, National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), it is noted that "If Smart Grid is to become the electric system of the future, we must deal today with the challenges it faces in terms of reliability and security... in both wired and wireless communication environments."

Arnold also advises that security must be designed at the architectural level, not added later on. And, while the author grants that many people have been working for some time on cyber security guidelines for Smart Grid at both private and public levels, ongoing research must continue to be a top priority to ensure security of the grid and to detect and mitigate threats and vulnerabilities that will continually surface.

In "High Assurance Smart Grid: A Three-Part Model For Smart Grid Control Systems", the authors admit that there is no single solution to Smart Grid Cyber-security. "Rather, it's only through a combined approach can grid control systems be sufficiently engineered."


According to authors Brad S. Cohen and IEEE members Thomas M. Overman, Ronald W. Sackman and Terry L. Davis, the electric service reliability that defines a multi-level framework and for architecture to be used throughout the electrical system, a High-Assurance Smart Grid architecture that is both an architectural approach and an aspirational goal is required.

The core attributes of this high assurance smart grid are: categorizing cyber-security requirements based on a multi-tier determination of a subsystem's potential impact on the overall system, implementing a robust defense-in-depth cyber-security architecture and implementing a distributed rather than hierarchical control system architecture.

The article concludes there is still significant research and development needed in autonomous robotics and multi-agent coordination, which provide examples for how grid devices can work with limited individual capability and, yet together, manage more complex operations than any individual device could do on their own. Further research is also needed in intrusion-tolerant systems, evolution of grid controls and grid security for installed base and newly installed systems, AR load control and transformation of grid control architecture

Wind power energy system delivery also factors heavily into Smart Grid and is addressed in "Advances in Wind Energy Technologies in the Context of Smart Grid." The paper discusses how interconnection of large wind farms with the power grid can add a new degree of control to the power system. However, there is also more work to be done here, according to authors Mietek Glinkowski and Senior IEEE Members Jonathan Hou and Gary Rackliffe, who cite new technology solutions being investigated and implemented, particularly in power inter-connection and wind farm protection and controls. The paper also illustrates examples of what the future might bring and how these technological advances will contribute to a power system that enables more wind power energy to be delivered more efficiently, consistently and smarter.

Among other Smart Grid topics evaluated in this issue are Photovoltaic Generators, Microgrids, Stochastic Control and Energy Storage.

Smart Grid integrates 21st century technology with the 20th century power grid. Modernization of the electric grid is a significant long-term undertaking that will span decades. It is quite possible that future generations will look upon the work now underway to develop the Smart Grid as the first great engineering achievement of the 21st century.

About IEEE
IEEE, the world's largest technical professional association, is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org.

About The Proceedings of the IEEE
Founded in 1913, (originally as Proceedings of the IRE), Proceedings of the IEEE is the most highly-cited general-interest journal in electrical engineering and computer science. This journal provides the most in-depth tutorial and review coverage of the technical developments that shape our world, enlisting the help of guest editors and authors from the best research facilities, leading edge corporations and universities around the world. For more information on Proceedings of the IEEE and the latest ideas and innovative technologies, visit http://www.ieee.org/proceedings.