Smart grid in Iran: Driving factors, evolution, challenges and possible solutions

Due to the remarkable development of technology and economy, the resilient power system is emerging as a key element which inevitably leads us towards the Smart Grid. This smart grid should be able to bring new abilities such as high reliability, self-healing, energy efficiency, price response, peak load reduction, and distribution automation. This paper gives a comprehensive comparison of the existing grid with the future grid and as a result, an overview of essential requirements for the implementation of a smart grid in Iran is obtained. The presses of establishing the smart grid in Iran together with analysis of its roadmap in this country are discussed later. The challenges concerning with the implementation of this concept along with their possible solutions are finally addressed in the power grid of Iran.