A Perspective on the Future of Distribution: Smart Grids, State of the Art, Benefits and Research Plans

Rosario Miceli, Salvatore Favuzza, Fabio Genduso

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica, Elettronica delle Telecomunicazioni, di Tecnologie Chimiche, Automatica e Modelli Matematici, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/epe.2013.51005                

Abstract

Currently, the design and operation criteria for electrical distribution networks are fastly changing due to some factors; among these, the progressive penetration of Distributed Generation (DG) is destined to cause deep changes in the existing networks, no longer considered as passive terminations of the whole electrical system. Moreover, the increasing application of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) will allow the implementation of the so called “smart grids”, determining new interesting scenarios. In the paper the problems and the potential benefits of DG, the possible new electrical distribution system models and the major research projects on smart grids are faced and reported.

Keywords

Distributed Generation; Smart Grids

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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