This document provides an introduction to smart grids. It defines a smart grid as an intelligent power grid that uses communication technology and smart meters to allow bidirectional power flow and handle distributed energy resources. The key benefits of smart grids are more reliable, flexible, efficient and robust power delivery. Smart grids modernize the traditional one-way power grid into an automated system with two-way data communication between power producers and consumers. This enables features like self-monitoring, self-healing and demand response capabilities. Security is also an important consideration for smart grids due to the integration of digital technologies.

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology (IJEET)
Volume 7, Issue 1, Jan-Feb, 2016, pp.45-49, Article ID: IJEET_07_01_005
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SMART GRID – AN INTRODUCTION
M. N. O. Sadiku and S.M. Musa
College of Engineering
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View, TX 77446
Sudarshan R. Nelatury
School of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Pennsylvania State University
Erie, PA 16563-1701
ABSTRACT
Electricity is a necessity in the modern world. In the traditional power
system, electricity is being generated and transmitted through a one-way
transmission and distribution system called the grid. The smart grid is an
intelligent power grid designed to handle distributed resources using
communication technology employing smart meters and control system. It
promises more efficient, secure and climate friendly power system.
Key words: Smart Grid, Micro Grid, Power Grid
Cite this Article: M. N. O. Sadiku, S.M. Musa and Sudarshan R. Nelatury,
Smart Grid – An Introduction. International Journal of Electrical Engineering
& Technology, 7(1), 2016, pp. 35-44.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJEET/issues.asp?JType=IJEET&VType=7&IType=1
1. INTRODUCTION
To sustain our modern society, we need an uninterrupted supply of electricity. The
world’s annual electricity generation was 20,250 TWh in the year 2012 and is
expected to be 25,500 TWh in the year 2020 [1].
The existing power grid provides one-way distribution of electricity from the
power generator to consumers. The basic structure has not changed for about 100
years. It is known to be inefficient and unreliable. As a result of its low efficiency, the
power industry is faced with unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Experiences
have shown that it is not suitable for 21st
century.
The word “smart” in smart grid refers to the notion of a power grid with
intelligence. The main objective of the smart grid is to bring reliability, flexibility,
efficiency, and robustness to the power system. Smart grid does this by introducing
two-way data communications into the power grid. Thus the smart grid consists of

2. M. N. O. Sadiku, S.M. Musa and Sudarshan R. Nelatury
http://www.iaeme.com/IJEET/index.asp 46 editor@iaeme.com
the power infrastructure and communication infrastructure, which correspond to the
flow of power and information respectively. This enables intelligent operation of the
smart grid. But this introduces security-related challenges.
Key benefits of smart grid include uninterrupted supply of power, reduced
transmission and distribution loss, secure grid, and market based electricity pricing
[2].
2. CONCEPT OF SMART GRID
The term “grid” is traditionally used for electricity generation, electricity
transmission, electricity distribution, and electricity control. A “smart grid” is an
enhancement of the traditional electric power grid. It is the modernization of the
power delivery system. It is a transformation of the legacy unidirectional electric grid
into automatic intelligent system of bidirectional exchange of electric power and
information. A smart grid may be defined as any combination of enabling
technologies, hardware, software, or practices that collectively make the delivery
infrastructure (or the grid) more reliable, more versatile, more secure, more
accommodating, more resilient, and ultimately more useful to consumers [3].
A smart grid basically consists of overlaying the physical power system with the
information system. A brief comparison between the existing power grid and the
smart grid is provided in Table 1. A conceptual model of smart grid developed by the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Conceptual model of the smart grid [4].

3. Smart Grid – An Introduction
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Table 1 Comparison between traditional power grid and the smart grid [4].
Existing Grid Smart Grid
Electromechanical Digital
One-way communication Two-way communication
Centralized generation Distributed generation
Few sensors Advanced sensors throughout
Manual monitoring Self-monitoring
Manual restoration Self-healing
Failures and blackouts Adaptive and islanding
Limited control Pervasive control
Few customer choices Many customer choices
From the technical point of view, the smart grid can be divided into three major
systems [4]:
 Smart infrastructure system: This is the energy, information, and communication
infrastructure underlying the smart grid. This allows two-way flow of electricity and
information. This implies that the users may put back electricity into the grid. The
system enables multiple entities (such as intelligent devices, dedicated software,
control center, etc.) to interact.
 Smart management system: This provides advanced management and control
services. Efficient management is fundamental for efficient operation of smart grids.
Management of smart grid includes the development and implementation of smart
metering, real time pricing, efficient management of renewable energy sources, and
management of transmission and distribution networks.
 Smart protection system: This provides advanced reliability analysis, fault protection,
and security services. The existing infrastructure has become vulnerable to several
security threats.
The smart grid is made possible by applying sensors, smart meters, and field
automated devices to the electrical power grid. The grid can predict, adapt, and
reconfigure itself reliably and efficiently. It will be able to handle uncertainties in
schedules, power transfer across regions, managing and resolving unpredictable
events, and meeting the demand for reliable supply [5]. In doing so, the smart grid
offers several benefits to both the power grid and the energy consumers such as:
reduction in transmission congestion, reduced blackouts and forced outages, self-
diagnosis, self-healing, peak demand shaving, increased system capacity, increased
power system security and reduced vulnerability, and ease in managing hybrid and
electric vehicles. Indispensable to the functioning of a smart grid are considerations
dealing with: energy storage, advanced meters and sensors, grid-friendly plug-in
hybrids, grid-friendly loads, substation and distribution automation, communications,
data-intensive analysis, visualization and human interface, and renewable energy
integration involving weather prediction and control [7]. Load shaping is one of the
important and challenging issues in power grid. Smart grids employ novel load
shaping strategies based on energy storage and dynamic pricing. A consumer would
sign up for a nominal quota of energy from the grid. If the usage exceeds the quota,

4. M. N. O. Sadiku, S.M. Musa and Sudarshan R. Nelatury
http://www.iaeme.com/IJEET/index.asp 48 editor@iaeme.com
the consumer is faced with a higher electricity price. With energy storage in place, the
consumer can optimize the energy consumption by varying charging and discharging
flow depending on the demand and price. This accomplishes optimal load shaping. If
these strategies are implemented with low complexity and in a distributed fashion,
scalability to large number of consumers is possible [8].
3. SECURITY
As we move from legacy power systems to more modern smart grid systems, security
will be a big issue. For any new system, security has to be part of system design [6].
Security has been a major concern from the advent of the smart grid concept.
It is the key factor in system design at each level of smart grid from metering to
remote sensing and control networks.
The most valuable promise of smart grid is the reliability and security of the
power system. Disruptions to the system can be due to weather or natural disasters.
Security detects whether the system is in a secure state or an alert state. The system is
secure when there are no limit violations. It is alert when particular limits are violated
[5].
4. CONCLUSION
The smart grid is the latest development for the electric power system. Although the
term “smart grid” does not have a precise, uniformly accepted definition, it is
commonly regarded as a digital upgrade of the existing power system. It promotes
clean energy, controls energy consumption pattern and brings security to the grid. The
future smart grid should enhance the security and reliability of the power system. The
implementation of smart grid will be a long continuous process because it involves
technological and financial investment. It also involves international effort. The
government of each nation will need to develop a policy for implementing smart grid.
As the smart grid moves in people’s living room, the focus will significantly change
to marketing to consumers. A good source of information about smart grid is the
IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid (2010 – present).
REFERENCES
[1] B. M. Buchholz and Z. Stycznski, Smart Grids – Fundamentals and Technologies
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[2] J. Hastings, D.M. Laverty, and D. J. Morrow, Securing the smart grid,
Proceedings of Power Engineering Conference (UPEC), 2014.
[3] F. P. Sioshansi (ed.), Smart Grid: Integrating Renewable, Distributed, and
Efficient Energy. Oxford, UK: Academic Press, 2012, pp. xxix, xxx, 393.
[4] X. Fang et al, Smart grid – the new and improved power grid: a survey, IEEE
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[5] J. Momoh, Smart Grid Fundamentals of Design and Analysis. Hoboken, NJ:
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[7] M. A. El-Sharkawi, Electric Energy - An Introduction, Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press, 3rd
edition, 2013.

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[8] T. Jiang, Y. Cao, L. Yu, Z. Wang, Load Shaping Strategy Based on Energy
Staorage and Dynamic Pricing in Smart Grid, IEEE Trans. on Smart Grid, vol. 5,
no. 6, Nov. 2016, pp. 2868-2876.
[9] Sharun John and Brinta N.R, Active Power Electronic Transformer A Standard
Building Block for Smart Grid. International Journal of Electrical Engineering
& Technology, 5(12), 2014, pp. 178-184.
[10] M.Saisesha, V.S.N.Narasimharaju, R.Madhu Sudanarao and M.Balaji, Control of
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
MATHEW N.O. SADIKU is a professor at Prairie View A&M University, Texas.
He is the author of several books and papers. He is an IEEE fellow.
SARHAN M. MUSA is an associate professor in the Department of Engineering
Technology at Prairie View A&M University, Texas. He has been the director of
Prairie View Networking Academy, Texas, since 2004. He is an LTD Spring and
Boeing Welliver Fellow.
SUDARSHAN R. NELATURY is an associate professor at the Penn State
University, Erie, PA. He is the author of several research papers. He is a senior
member, IEEE.