Smart Grids
Smart grids are a kind of revolution for our society. Right now, major investments are currently underway to renew and modernize the electricity grids. New smart grids are changing the way we distribute, consume, and even think about electricity in the future.
What are smart grids?
The smart grid ensures that customers always have electricity in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way. It integrates information from everyone connected to it; electricity producers, electricity consumers and those who are both. It analyzes the information and acts on it. This makes it possible for us to always balance supply and demand for electricity, even when large parts of the electricity production will vary with weather and wind.
A smart grid should be able to:
- Manage an increasing share of weather-dependent electricity generation, such as wind and solar power
- Enabling consumers who want renewable and affordable electricity
- Manage energy storage that can store electricity when supply is high and demand low
- Connect charging infrastructure for electric cars, buses, trucks, ferries and more
- Create a platform where new energy-related services can emerge.
Why smart grids?
The big challenge is to get to grips with climate problems and at the same time meet an increased demand for energy. To reduce the use of fossil fuels, we need to increase the availability of renewable and weather-dependent electricity, which places completely new demands on the electricity grid – the electricity grid needs to become "smarter". The smart grid must also be able to handle the fact that customers are consumers and producers at the same time, and a growing need for charging infrastructure for different types of electric vehicles.
A smart grid is the solution to several challenges
- Capacity – to meet the growing demand for electricity in our growth regions
- Reliability - deliver electricity whenever needed
- Flexibility - efficient use of renewable energy sources
- Efficient – as few losses as possible in distribution and in the use of electricity
Smart Grid Projects
There are many projects underway around the world that will make electricity grids smarter. Here is a selection of the projects we participate in:
Sthlmflex is a marketplace for electricity and a tool for managing the capacity challenges in the Stockholm region's electricity grid. The marketplace is operated by Ellevio AB, E.ON Energy Distribution and Vattenfall Eldistribution in collaboration with Svenska kraftnät and NODES.
During 2020–2023, we at Ellevio have installed almost 900,000 new smart electricity meters at our customers' premises. They make it easier to control our electricity use and allow us to connect new, modern electricity services as the electricity grids become smarter.
Information from Ellevio AB,
updated on 7 June 2024