IEEE to Define Smart Grid Energy Storage Systems

Your first thought after seeing this headline is probably: What does this have to do with automation and control? Just bear with me for a moment and I’ll do my best to clarify. For now, on to the IEEE announcement ….

This week IEEE announced the launch of the IEEE P2030.2 Working Group (WG), which is tasked with facilitating wide-scale, consistent implementation of energy storage systems. P2030.2 WG will deliver guidelines for discrete and hybrid energy storage systems that are integrated into the electric power infrastructure.

The initial plan for P2030.2 is to build on overall smart grid interoperability topics being covered in IEEE Standard P2030TM, a guideline for smart grid interoperability for the power engineering, communications and information technology industries.

Connecting this announcement to the world of automation and control is the delivery of power used to drive automation and control systems wherever they may be installed. Given that industry (where some of the largest concentrations of automation and control systems exist) is the biggest sector of energy usage (31% of U.S. energy is consumed by industry, according to the Energy Information Agency), power is not an inconsequential concern. And while you may not care too much about where your power comes from as long as it is clean and consistently available, the fact is that more and more if it will be coming your way via the smart grid.

Many experts consider the installation of advanced meters as the first major step in laying the groundwork for serious smart grid creation. At the end of 2008, only 4.7 percent of U.S. meters were advanced meters (according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission).  In October of 2009, as part of the economic stimulus, 18 million more advanced meters were bought for nationwide deployment — bringing the percent of advanced U.S. meters up to nearly 18% once installed. According to a CNNMoney report in October 2009, the Obama administration hopes to distribute 40 million smart meters over the next few years. (Note: I live in the north suburbs of the Atlanta metro area and a smart meter appeared on the side of my house last year).

So, now that we’ve established the impact of the smart grid on automation and control applications, back to the IEEE announcement ….

The P2030.2 WG will develop a “Guide for the Interoperability of Energy Storage Systems Integrated with the Electric Power Infrastructure” to help users achieve greater understanding of energy storage systems by defining technical characteristics. It will also illustrate how discrete and hybrid systems may be integrated with and used compatibly as part of the electric power infrastructure.

In case you’re interested, online registration for the upcoming P2030 WG meeting is now open online at https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=iecs&formId=88507 for individuals and organizations wishing to help shape the future of the Smart Grid.

For additional information about the P2030.2 or P2030 WGs, please visit: http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/scc21/2030/2030_index.html.