Towards a Unified Smart Grid ICT Infrastructure

Abstract

Throughout the previous chapters we have outlined the key technologies that will characterize the development of the smart grid. Innovative new power engineering technologies will be required to introduce flexibility so the power distribution network can incorporate new distributed generation systems and optimize delivery in a more responsive and dynamic environment. Moreover, an entirely new plane is introduced in the form of smart metering feeding back from end users towards energy suppliers and network operators and ultimately provide an end-point for dynamic two way communication between producers, providers, and consumers. As we have seen, the provision for these new technologies necessitates the provision for ubiquitous data communication networks, far beyond what is currently in place, and this has been the main focus of this work. However, while we have seen how communications networks can be built around the technologies considered here, we have yet to show how these systems could be composed together and what functionality will be necessary to govern the interaction between these disparate elements.