Smart grids by country

The term Smart Grid is most commonly defined as an electric grid that has been digitized to enable two way communication between producers and consumers. The objective of the Smart Grid is to update electricity infrastructure to include more advanced communication, control, and sensory technology with the hope of increasing communication between consumers and energy producers. The potential benefits from a Smart Grid include increased reliability, more efficient electricity use, better economics, and improved sustainability.

The concept of a Smart Grid began to emerge in the early 2000s. Since then, many countries have been pursuing a Smart Grid. Each country has their own unique definition of a Smart Grid based on their own policies and objectives. Therefore, every country approaches achieving a Smart Grid a little different.

Below is an overview of major Smart Grid legislation and projects in select countries.

South Africa has Smart Grid efforts are focused around three objectives: increasing the penetration of renewable generation, decarbonizing their electricity generation and improving network reliability and availability.

Smart Grid Efforts

1. Increasing Penetration of Renewable Generation

To achieve the objective of increasing renewable generation, South Africa began hosting renewable energy auctions in 2010. Eligible technologies include onshore wind, solar thermal, solar PV, biomass, biogas, landfill gas, and small hydro. The independent power producers (IPP) can bid anywhere between 1-75 MW and winners receive their bidden rate for 25 years. As of 2013, 2.47 GW of renewable capacity had been contracted.

2. Decarboning Electricity Generation

To achieve the objective of decarbonizing their electricity generation South Africa is employing three strategies. The first is incorporating more renewable generation though the IPP energy auctions discussed above. The second strategy involves increasing their gas generation. The 2013 South Africa Integrated Resource Plan Update (IRP) projected that 800 MW of co-generation, 2.37 GW of combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) and 3.9 GW of open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) would be built by 2030. The third strategy being considered is an emissions cap, carbon tax, or carbon budget. The goal of either mechanism would be to keep the emissions from electricity generation between 95 – 193 million tons per annum (MT/a) by 2050.

3. Improve Network Reliability and Availability

To address the final objective of improving network reliability and availability South Africa plans to expand their transmission and distribution grids. The 2013 IRP identified five transmission line corridors that would be needed to help connect new generation to demand centers.

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Wikipedia