The Green Smart Grid Initiative
Developing a Smart Grid to Help Address Climate Change
No two issues are getting more attention within the energy industry and among policymakers these days than the smart grid and climate change. Yet most see these two areas as not being connected. More precisely, the smart grid – and smart grid practices like demand response – is not being viewed as having a role in the attainment of climate change goals.
Demand response, the heart of the smart grid, could account for a fifth of U.S. electricity.
FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, cited by Reuters, “Smart Grid Good for Big Solar, Wind: US Regulator,” October 2009 view source website »
The Green Smart Grid Initiative (GSGI) has been launched to demonstrate that the smart grid indeed can be a major positive force in addressing climate change. Among the issues it will seek to build an understanding of are the following:
Smart Grid and Renewable Energy
There is widespread
consensus that increasing the use of renewable energy
is a key component of any strategy and plan for addressing
climate change. What
is less known is that many renewable energy options provide
power on an intermittent and variable basis or
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Smart Grid and Energy Efficiency
Another consensus
building block in plans to address climate change is energy efficiency. Most
energy efficiency efforts are focused on replacement of devices and
equipment with more efficient items, or focused on energy efficiency
design and labeling of products and buildings. The
smart grid will introduce and foster new types »»»
An Essential Role
When
it comes to renewable energy and energy efficiency, a smarter grid
is a greener grid, and the Green Smart Grid not only has a role to
play in addressing climate change, but is likely essential
to allow climate change goals to be reached.
Taking the Message to Copenhagen
As part of its educational
efforts, the Green Smart Grid Initiative will be an official
UN-approved participant in the 15th Conference
of the Parties (COP-15) in Copenhagen in December 2009.
