Technologies for smart grids: A brief review

In electrical power systems smart grid is widely recognized as the new solution that must be developed to manage distributed network tackling the increment of renewable energies. Through monitoring capability, data integration, effective communication, advanced analysis and system control the smart grid can meet the power demand as well as increase total efficiency and reduce consumption and costs. Many different technologies must converge to create a smart grid as a storage systems utilized as an energy buffer, telecommunication systems that can exchange data with sensors and actuators, advanced control systems that monitor the power grid and manage energy flows in real time. This paper reviews the state of the art of present application of these technologies in smart grids. The specific focus of the work is on telecommunication systems to have a monitoring through last smart metering application. The impacts and benefits of real time controls are investigated to improve the power efficiency, security and quality.