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Grid communications and control systems are often thought to be much more securely firewalled than is actually the case. An effective remedial program begins with a thorough and clear-eyed assessment of all vulnerabilities; especially to intrusion via the Internet. Creation of an adequate security system requires a management culture that demands and respects attentiveness to security among all employees.
Europe is ahead of the world's other highly industrialized areas in planning for the smart grid. A well-elaborated vision, developed in the framework of European Union institutions, anticipates that the traditional distinction between transmission and T&D will blur and disappear, and that the end-user will more and more become a "prosumer", producing as well as consuming energy locally. Europe's 2020 targets for renewable generation will only be achievable, in fact, if smart grid features are exploited to the fullest.
Two world leaders in science and technology are joining forces to help the vision of a smart grid reach its fullest potential. Their program will draw sustenance from Korea's ambitious national goals for greenhouse gas emissions, green energy, and electric cars, and from pioneering efforts by Illinois in vehicular electrification and smart grid education.
Capturing all the benefits of the smart grid will require vast amounts of information to be communicated, collected, and processed. It will only be manageable if some basic differences between types of data are recognized and respected. Some information needs to be consulted frequently and in large quantities, but only locally, by the consumer; other information can be broadcast.
A monthly publication, the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter features practical and timely technical information and forward-looking commentary on smart grid developments and deployments around the world. Designed to foster greater understanding and collaboration between diverse stakeholders, the newsletter brings together experts, thought-leaders, and decision-makers to exchange information and discuss issues affecting the evolution of the smart grid.
Melvin I. Olken is the editor-in-chief of the IEEE Power& Energy Magazine. Prior to assuming this position, he was the first executive director of the ... Read more
Dr. Christos A. Polyzois, former Director of Technology Strategy at Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, is an independent ... Read more
Ronnie Belmans is a full professor at the Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven in Belgium, where he teaches electric power and energy systems. ... Read more
Massoud Amin is director of the Technological Leadership Institute, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and ... Read more
