Smart Grid Conclusion
Smart Grid Conclusion
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In Kuwait, the main form of energy is electricity acquired from oil and natural gas, transmitted through a network consisting of air bound cables and underground cables running across the country. The access rate is high typically about 100% due to low electricity costs and high GDP. There has been an increase in electricity demand forcing the country to consider introducing other renewable forms of energy. Although the plans are underway, the current infrastructure for electricity transmission is incapable of handling this additional power. Hence there is a need for construction of additional facilities that will enable the continued production and distribution of the additional energy.
The current system has a limitation in terms of the additional power it can handle. Any large scale production of more than 11000MW will overwhelm the system leading to server consequences like electricity caused fires due to damage of secondary transformers throughout the country. However, there are proposals to the government to divide the network into three distinct phases. This will allow for extra power generation because the transmission voltage will be increased from 275 to 400KV.
The power grid is well established for power transmission, but it can be improved by upgrading the grid system through replacement of old systems with new ones which employ combined cycle systems, leading to reduced unsafe operations and increase the power capacity.
The grid can accommodate renewable energy if better scheduling in power production is made. Producers of renewable energy will provide varying loads achieving a balance in production and demand.
In order to increase the capacity of production, the quality of power, enhance reliable delivery of electricity and save energy, smart grid technology is employed. In a smart environment, Flexible AC Transmission devices (FACTS) are employed to deal with issues of grid capacity and transmission network stability that arise as additional sources of energy incorporated to the network.
