Power grids have long been constructed with a built-in
intelligence. So why is so much noise being made over the
arrival of so-called “smart grids”? Are we witnessing a real
revolution? In a clear departure from the past, more and more
flexibility is being demanded from the existing infrastructure,
largely as a result of development in renewable energy sources.
Solar and wind power are intermittent and can lead to rapid
fluctuations in production. Another factor is the desire to
create a more dynamic infrastructure to better cope with
fluctuations in demand without the need for investment in
further plant construction. To create grids capable of meeting
the challenges more flexibility is required and can be provided
by adding new forms of intelligence. The potential for a massive
shake-up is clear, one that could have an impact on power
utilities, regulators, manufacturers, network managers, and
consumers for many years to come. Since inception, electricity
generation has required intelligent networks. In the