A Special Issue on Global Perspectives

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By Robert J. Sawyer and Ravi Subramaniam

Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are seeing increased usage globally as a means to enhance the reliability of the power system. As the use of PMUs are expanding from a post-event forensics tool to more real-time wide area measurement and control, having a tested and certified PMU is becoming more critical. This article will provide more details to achieve IEEE certification.

By Rafael Ferreira and Luiz A. Barroso

Latin America is an important emerging market for smart grid solutions, due to its size and fast growth rates. A common feature in the region is the need to improve technical and commercial energy loss levels and enhance reliability and quality of service. This helps building the case for smart grids and results in advanced metering infrastructure and network automation technologies being under the spotlight. However, Latin American countries are far from uniform regarding their technological needs. Though many countries already have smart grid deployment road maps, the levels of actual investments also vary significantly in Latin America, and understanding the specific regulatory context of each country is a requirement for investments interested in the region.

By Ramon Gallart

Smart Rural Grid” derives from the more general concept of Smart Grid. A Smart Grid is usually referred to as an energy supply system that is managed by means of advanced information technology, allowing improved control of both, the supply and the demand side of the energy market. This challenge is especially pronounced in rural areas. The technology applied can help to prevent failures and loss of electricity, and to make it easier to find and repair failures when parts of the distribution grid suffer outage. For such a purpose, it is necessary to introduce the quasi-grid concept to explain and apply other ways to create a grid without new electrical infrastructures or network reinforcement investments.

By Patrick T. Lee

Smart grids bring improved efficiency and reliability to the centralized energy delivery system that has been in existence for more than 100 years. The electric grid has relied on burning fossil fuels, but is now slowly shifting to renewable energy sources. In contrast, people living in remote areas such as the Himalayas are much smarter in their energy use even without electricity. Recently, volunteers from the IEEE Smart Village and Global Himalayan Expedition experienced firsthand what it takes to bring electricity and communication to a remote village, high in the clouds in Northern India.


Past Issues

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IEEE Smart Grid Bulletin Compendium

The IEEE Smart Grid Bulletin Compendium "Smart Grid: The Next Decade" is the first of its kind promotional compilation featuring 32 "best of the best" insightful articles from recent issues of the IEEE Smart Grid Bulletin and will be the go-to resource for industry professionals for years to come. Click here to read "Smart Grid: The Next Decade"