A review of smart grid: Exploring the integration with cloud [articol]

Abstract

Power system became a complex network as it connects eighty percent of the world population at the end. Power flows from generation to transmission and distribution whereas complexity increases from distribution to transmission and generation. Proper distribution system will reduce the difficulties in transmission and generation. Creating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) near the load center reduces the burden in transmission part of the power system. Two ways power transfers needs a smart technology to lead the effective operation for the imminent power systems. Smart grid encourages the renewable power source for small power producers, DER and microgrids. Solar, Wind, Biomass are some of the well-known renewable energy sources for small scale power producers and the limitations of renewable energy sources depends on the availability, output and conventional method. Renewable energy uses power electronic converters to interface with gird. By controlling and monitoring the output of the renewable energy, the limitations of microgrid can be eliminated and it leads to reliable smart grid network. Increasing the size of the smart grid network includes problems like handling meta or peta data, controlling and monitoring microgrids and communication between end-user to operator or vice versa. This paper has reviewed about the issues faced by the smart grid in communication and data management field to ensure stable operation of the microgrid. The solution for the smart grid limitations in data management is addressed by the Cloud computing technology. Cloud computing is an emerging technology that handles big data and reduces the cost for infrastructure. The data about customer and microgrids can be stored and made available for accessing for the reliable operation which creates transparency in the power market.