What role do smart meters play in a smart grid?

Smart meters record electricity use in short intervals and send the data automatically to suppliers. Smart meter data allows time-of-use tariffs that reward using power when it is plentiful.

What is demand-side response?

Demand-side response is the shifting or reducing of electricity use when supply is tight. Examples include delaying electric car charging or pausing industrial processes.

Outline how a smart grid helps to incorporate electricity from renewable sources.

A smart grid forecasts wind and solar output and moves flexible demand to match it. The grid also dispatches storage and manages rooftop generation, so less renewable power is wasted.

What is meant by the curtailment of wind generation?

Curtailment is an instruction to wind farms to reduce output, even though wind is available. Curtailment happens when the grid cannot use or carry the power, so clean energy is wasted.

CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology 3930

Fossil Fuels

Topic overview Coal, oil and gas in modern society Reserves, lifespan and accessibility Fossil fuel combustion and the IPCC evidence Carbon trading schemes Fossil fuel demand, emerging economies and fuel security Environmental impacts of fossil fuel use

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

Topic overview Sustainable development and climate agreements Emissions and energy efficiency targets for 2020 Renewable energy and demand reduction in policy Nuclear power as an alternative

Macrogeneration

Topic overview Conservation of energy and the simple generator Thermal power stations and steam turbines Direct and indirect renewable electricity Electricity transmission through the National Grid Smart grids and interconnectors Combined heat and power

Microgeneration

Topic overview Microgeneration technologies Benefits of home and community microgeneration The heat pump cycle and coefficient of performance Air source and ground source heat pumps

Energy From Wind

Topic overview Horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines Kinetic energy, wind power and the Betz limit Power curves, rated output and energy losses Swept area, blade length and turbine mass Air density, hub height and turbine siting Power control, yawing and survival speed Choosing a location for a commercial wind farm

Energy From the Sun

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Energy From Biomass

Topic overview Defining biomass and its main categories Energy crops grown for biomass Advantages and disadvantages of biomass fuel Combustion, woodchip and fuel quality Gasification and syngas Biogas and commercial anaerobic digesters

Energy Storage

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Plastics for the Future

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Renewable Energy Investigations

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Sustainable Development

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Waste Management

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Waste to Energy Technologies

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Land Contamination and Remediation

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Hydrogen Fuel Cells

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Transport System Challenges

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Energy Performance of Buildings

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Emerging Technologies

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Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities

Topic overview Energy and buildings in sustainable urban developments Transport, waste and brownfield sites Water, drainage and urban green space Energy, water and waste for isolated rural dwellings Local food and communication technology in rural areas

The Code for Sustainable Homes

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Macrogeneration

Smart grids and interconnectors

3 things to know
AS 1

Overview

Smart grids, smart meters and demand-side response, wind curtailment, the Moyle and other interconnectors, the North–South Interconnector, high-voltage direct current, and the environmental and economic case for interconnection.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is a smart grid, and how does it differ from a traditional electricity grid?

Key term

Explain the concept of a smart grid.

Key term

How does a smart grid differ from a traditional grid?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Explain the concept of a smart grid.
Model answer
A smart grid is an electricity network that uses sensors, digital communication and automation to monitor supply and demand. A smart grid balances supply and demand in real time and handles power flowing in both directions.
2
How does a smart grid differ from a traditional grid?
Model answer
A traditional grid sends power one way, from large power stations to passive consumers. A smart grid also takes power from many small generators and actively manages demand.
3
What role do smart meters play in a smart grid?
Model answer
Smart meters record electricity use in short intervals and send the data automatically to suppliers. Smart meter data allows time-of-use tariffs that reward using power when it is plentiful.
4
What is demand-side response?
Model answer
Demand-side response is the shifting or reducing of electricity use when supply is tight. Examples include delaying electric car charging or pausing industrial processes.
5
Outline how a smart grid helps to incorporate electricity from renewable sources.
Model answer
A smart grid forecasts wind and solar output and moves flexible demand to match it. The grid also dispatches storage and manages rooftop generation, so less renewable power is wasted.
6
What is meant by the curtailment of wind generation?
Model answer
Curtailment is an instruction to wind farms to reduce output, even though wind is available. Curtailment happens when the grid cannot use or carry the power, so clean energy is wasted.

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Fossil Fuels

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

Macrogeneration

Microgeneration

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