The US Electric Grid
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Transcript of The US Electric Grid
THE US ELECTRIC GRIDJeff McMahon and Andy WilsonEGEE 101HApril 15, 2010
HISTORY OF ELECTRICITY 1882 - Thomas Edison
designed a DC power plant in New York City – 1 mile range
• 1895 – Westinghouse opens Niagara Falls AC power plant -200 mile range
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Edison2.jpg
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:N.Tesla.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:George_Westinghouse.jpg
DEVELOPMENT OF THE GRID 1933 – Congress established the Tennessee
Valley Authority 1935 Roosevelt creates the Rural
Electrification Administration 1953 – American Electric Power
Company builds a 345kV line connecting 7 states
1967 – 765 kV electric line developed
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=110997398
POWER PLANTS
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=110997398
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=110997398
CURRENT STATE OF ELECTRIC GRID Predominantly
powered by fossil fuels
Existing infrastructure over 50 years old D+ from ASCE
300,000 miles of transmission lines
Produced initially to guarantee lowest possible cost
DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICITY Electricity is
transmitted in various voltages
Stepped up from power plant for high voltage transmission
Stepped down several times until final use in home or business
Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/power.htm
ELECTRIC LOSSES High voltage can travel farther with less loss
Joule’s Law: Ohm’s Law:
Increased voltage decreases current which reduces loss by
LOAD BALANCING Plants must match electricity production to
demand in real-time Many studies on forecasting electricity
demand Currently a one way system to study demand
Sunday - 5:30pm
SMART GRID TECHNOLOGY Two-way power communication
Some cities using wireless mesh networks of meters and devices
V2G: Vehicle to Grid, could allow consumer to power the grid using excess power from cars
Distributed generation Consumer solar, wind production
GRID ENERGY STORAGE Pumped Water Electric Cars Flywheels Batteries Thermal
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grid_storage_energy_flow.png
AUSTIN CASE STUDY
Source: http://www.austinenergy.com/About%20Us/Company%20Profile/smartGrid/index.htm
AMERICA’S NEED FOR ELECTRICITY Commodity
We want tons of it for as cheap as possible Ecological Resource
How can we move away from fossil fuels? Social Necessity
Communication and basic comfort Strategic Material
Sensitive data now stored electronically
HOW DOES THE GRID IMPACT US? 99.97% reliable
However, outages cost $150 billion ($500 per person)
Since 2000, only 668 miles of new interstate transmission lines
Since 1982: peak demand outgrows transmission by 25% each year
Little R&D done to make grid more efficient $3.8 billion pledge from Obama Administration
falls well short of estimated $100 billion necessary
SUPPLY-SIDE SOCIAL ASPECTS Energy as strategic material
Banking, intelligence, national defense run on electricity
Need to make grid more reliable and secure Russian and Chinese spies attempt to hack grid Blackouts increasingly likely as demand outgrows
capacity for transmission Bottlenecks in transmission paths block flow of
energy during peak demand
SUPPLY-SIDE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS Electricity generation accounts for 40% of
CO2 emissions (compare to 20% from transportation) 2.8 billion tons in 2008
Coal still primary fuel Cheap, domestic resource Also releases SO2 and Nox , contributing to acid
rain and smog formation Current Distribution and Transmission losses
are approximately 6.5% of total electricity generated
SMART GRID ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS 5% increase in efficiency of grid would
eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions from an equivalent of 22 million vehicles, or 131 million tons CO2 GE Grid Efficiency
Ability to incorporate renewable energy directly in to the grid would decrease reliance on fossil fuels GE Alternative Energy
More informed power generation decisions decrease net amount of fuel being burned
ASPECTS OF A “SMARTER GRID” Smart meters
communicate two ways Monitors when
electricity is used Allows for flexible
pricing to give incentive for off-peak energy use
10% savings Smaller and more
diversified generation
Source: US DOE “The Smart Grid: An Introduction”
MULTIPLE FACETS OF SMART GRID
Source: US DOE “The Smart Grid: An Introduction”
THE SMART GRID AND SOCIETY Funding for education projects
Sacramento State University Colorado University Ohio State University
Training creates thousands of new jobs Turn off lights, set thermostat…there’s an
app for that! Right Here at PSU
Research Partnership with Lockheed Martin Students educating themselves
DEMAND-SIDE IMPLICATIONS IBM study says our age group (18-24) willing to
pay for services that increase energy efficiency Personal steps
The Energy Detective and Google The Energy Detective Google Power Meter
Plug-In HEVs more feasible with Smart Grid Existing power plants can generate electricity for 73%
of light vehicles if plugged in at night (cuts 52% foreign oil reliance)
CONCLUSION Existing infrastructure not designed for
today’s usage or technology Possibility of Smart Grid in near future
Strong support from our generation Currently underfunded Improve efficiency, security, and reliability
Electricity literally runs our nation Need to keep up with demand while minimizing
environmental impact Electricity promises to account for larger share of
US Energy in the coming decades
REFERENCES http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/fact-sheet/e
nergy http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/smart_grid/
ideas/index.html?re=spf http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?
page=electricity_in_the_united_states#tab1 http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/energy/2010/0
4/07/a-smart-electrical-grid-could-secure-the-energy-supply--.html
US Dept. of Energy “The Smart Grid: An Introduction”
http://live.psu.edu/story/37953 http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat3p9
.html http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/ask/electricity_faqs.asp#ele
ctric_rates2 http://www.caiso.com/ http://
www.austinenergy.com/About%20Us/Company%20Profile/smartGrid/index.htm
http://www.smartgrid.gov/about/smart_grid_history