A Holistic Review of Smart Grid Contribution Toward Energy Sustainability

Abstract

As per International Energy Agency (IEA), extensive implementation of Smart Grids is vital to attaining a reliable and sustainable energy future. IEA believes that the Smart Grid can perform an important function to enable clean energy technologies because the present tendencies in the supply and usage of energy are becoming increasingly unsustainable. The following are the key recommendations by IEA: Enabling technology; Deploying in developing countries; and International collaboration. An increase in energy requirement and climate change has put sustainable development in focus which is reflected in United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The assimilation of clean and sustainable energy generation, optimal transmission and distribution, and optimal utilization based on Smart Grid technologies is the essential path to sustainable development. Current deficiencies in the sustainable energy supply chain are the irregularity in the generation and low utilization efficiency of the power system. This chapter discusses the role that Smart Grid systems play to achieve energy sustainability. Among other things, a Smart Grid system helps achieve sustainable electrical energy initiatives by: Improving utilization of renewable sources of energy; Optimal storage of renewable energy output; Increasing consumption efficiency; and Flexible transmission and distribution. To sum up, a Smart Grid makes renewable energy sources sustainable by resolving the inherent deficiencies introduced by these sources.