Smart Grid Library

Ben Franklin, the first American genius, achieved fame and notoriety for his electricity research, which included that famous kite-flying experiment.  But did you know that he first described the concept of treating energy efficiency as an energy resource?  He memorably stated “A penny saved is a penny earned,” back in the 1700s, but today he [...]

Smart Grid technologies that enable integration of renewable sources of energy and energy storage into the distribution grid, along with new energy management software solutions, are propelling the deployment of microgrids in college and business campuses and military bases.  The Smart Grid Dictionary 3rd Edition defines a microgrid as a small power system that integrates [...]

We take electricity for granted.  In the USA and other developed nations, we are wired up with electricity that is readily available.  Blackouts are infrequent, notwithstanding causes based in natural disasters or human error.   But for the 1.4 billion humans who have no access to electricity, every day is a blackout.  Another billion have unreliable [...]

Energy efficiency is “the first fuel to set priorities about design, deployment, and use of any devices or materials that consume electricity or contribute to its consumption.” (Definition from the Smart Grid Dictionary, 2nd Edition). It is also called “low-hanging fruit” to describe that it is the easiest and cheapest way to avoid the purchase [...]

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill now polluting fragile wetlands of several states is an environmental and economic disaster.  This is the downside of an addiction to oil, and it should serve as a potent reminder of the strategic value that electric vehicles will have to eliminating significant sources of carbon emissions and that crap [...]

The Department of Energy lists active consumer participation as one of the most important characteristics of a Smart Grid.  This takes shape in two forms – electricity production and electricity consumption.  One of the many benefits of the Smart Grid is its ability to integrate renewable energy sources into large scale electricity production.  Another is [...]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are important pieces in the Smart Grid puzzle.  EVs will play an increasingly important dual role in transport and energy storage.  This role change has consequences that impact consumer lifestyles, wallets, and decision-making processes.  And unfortunately, there’s little being communicated to consumers at this point in time.  For example, I recently attended [...]

The State of California mandated that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) work with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and California Energy Commission (CEC) to create requirements for a Smart Grid deployment plan by July of this year. These three entities held workshops this past week to gather information and offer researchers, consumers, product [...]

Don’t you just love acronyms?  I do, which is a good thing since I write the Smart Grid Dictionary, which is loaded with them.  Acronyms are shorthand for common phrases, and there are certainly plenty of them in the Smart Grid business.    Imagine my delight when I encountered a new acronym last week – BUGS.  [...]

The message in Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign, “It’s the economy, stupid” is a great example of a focused communications strategy.  Utilities and vendors of energy solutions and services that require figurative and literal buy-in of ratepayers and consumers need to create focused and layered communications strategies with them in mind.  Your success depends on [...]