A Systems View of the “Smart Grid”

Ian Hiskens

Vennema Professor of Engineering

Department of EECS

University of Michigan

Abstract The term "smart grid" first gained notoriety in the Energy Act of 2007, and has more recently been linked with the federal government's stimulus package. According to various reports, smart grid technology will save consumers $49 billion per year, create 280,000 jobs, and probably make really good lattes for Washington lobbyists. Smart grid concepts are not well defined, but tend to imply an ability for consumer demand and/or grid power flows to respond to system-wide conditions, in order to improve reliability and efficiency. The talk will discuss the motivation for smart grids, and consider a variety of potential applications including grid support for renewable generation and integration of plug-in electric vehicles. Smart grids will require highly-distributed controls, secure communications, and huge computational capability. A system-of-systems view of those requirements will be presented.

Friday, February 6, 2009

3:30 – 4:30p.m

Rm. 1500 EECS