Smart Grids 3: Renewable Energy and Cyber Security

 

With energy production from renewable energy sources becoming increasingly important, the role of Smart Grids is growing as well. The need to manage, monitor and control the grids is becoming more complex. Advanced SCADA systems, like zenon, can take this role.

Simultaniously the need to protect grids is becoming increasingly important. Insight studies into Cyber Security have shown that there is currently a lack of sufficient protection in many grids.

Read the third part of our Smart Grid Series to learn more about the challenges Smart Grids will face in the future, particularly in terms by means of a simulation mode.

Smart Grids 2: in the medium and low voltage level

The Smart Grid in the medium and low voltage area is characterized by significant branching and a high degree of complexity. This places particularly heavy demands in terms of communication and monitoring. In order to network the multitude of systems involved efficiently, as well as to exchange communication between the systems, SCADA systems - such as zenon - are useful.

In the second part of our white paper about Smart Grids, we are looking at the medium and low voltage area of the network in more detail and, in particular, the role of the smart meter. Read about the challenges we expect to face in the future and what the solutions to these challenges could look like here.

Smart Grids 1: Smart Grids and zenon Process Gateway

Energy supply in the USA and in Europe is changing from a highway that leads from the generator to the consumers, into a dual system. Consumers are also producers; feeding energy into the grid - and this presents energy supply companies with new challenges. How can numerous small producers be integrated efficiently?

The answer is a smart grid, which can group small electricity suppliers together to form “virtual power plants” that can be treated as though they are complete large power stations. In this way, they can be integrated into the grid and given set value requirements. Thus, the frequency remains stable in the grid. Authorities in the USA are already developing a standard that will govern this kind of operation.

Inevitably, smart grids will also require an investment in technology. Energy highways must be designed for traffic flow in both directions to ensure the control of the grid remains secure and reliable. zenon already supports the necessary technology and the relevant standards - and offers tested and versatile technology with its Process Gateway.