Before this assignment, I can honestly say I had very little to no knowledge on this topic. Due to this blog post I found some very interesting things that I never knew before. I believe that for me, this blog will be more of me discovering new things and I think it will be very interesting.
The U.S Energy Grid:
With the research I did on the energy grid I learned that it is an electrical system that provides energy to producers and consumers. The grid has grown into three big systems that provide electricity around the country. This system really grew after WWII when demands for electricity grew, they then decided to interconnect their systems. this interconnection was very useful and helped in many ways, including reducing the extra capacity that each utility had to hold.
The Smart Grid:
The smart grid is basically an electric grid that moves electricity from the power plants and into our homes, businesses, facilities, etc. Now, what makes this grid a “smart” grid is the digital technology that permit the two-way communication between where the power comes from and where it goes. The smart grid has grown so much since it first started in the 1890’s. This grid now stands for and supply for our economic and environmental health.
Pros:
- More efficient transmission of electricity
- Quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances
- Reduced peak demand, which will also help lower electricity rates
- Improved security
Cons:
- Cost
- Privacy
Recourses:
http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/article/power_grid.cfm
https://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid/smart_grid.html
http://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/smart-grid-how-does-it-work-and-why-do-we-need-it
I also had little knowledge on this topic before this assignment! Cost is a good con to point out. It is very expensive to keep up with this extensive system.
I’m interested in this historical connotation you bring up. That is, the energy boom that happened after World War II, leading to the interconnection of all the disparate energy grids. This is something I’d missed while doing my own research, and I’m curious about what other historical influences there might have been on the energy grid as we know it today.