THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BASED DRIVERS FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND SMART GRIDS

摘要

The electric power grid infrastructure that has served us so well for so long is rapidly running up against its limitations and needs to be optimized. Long-term drivers in the energy market are the cause of a current systematic optimization of the energy system. In this article the current position of the smart grid, the issues surrounding it, the challenges ahead, the countless opportunities it presents, and the benefits we all stand to gain by its adoption are discussed. There is a massive challenge to put the global energy system on a sustainable basis to offer less impact on the environment and CO_2 emission control. Energy networks and grids have to become more efficient, flexible, reliable, green and decentralized. To address all these drivers, new technologies, public policies, economic incentives and regulations are fundamental to bring the smart grid to full implementation. The transformation from a centralized, producer-controlled network to one that is less centralized and more consumer-interactive is proposed. This empowers consumers to become active participants in their energy choices to a degree never before possible and offers a two-way visibility and control of energy consumption.