Smart Grid

Implications of smart grid development, projects, and policies for the power industry


EMP: The Biggest Unaddressed Threat to the Grid
EMP: The Biggest Unaddressed Threat to the Grid

The electricity grid has been characterized as the world’s largest and most complicated machine. The grid, like all machines, requires periodic upgrades and maintenance to prevent outages during the normal…


Beacon Power Makes a Comeback
Beacon Power Makes a Comeback

Beacon Power Corp. was founded in 1997 to develop flywheel-based energy storage technology. By 2007, the 100-kW/25-kWh Gen 4 flywheel system was commercialized and deployed in several projects. However, market…


Energy Storage Developments and Demand Ramp Up
Energy Storage Developments and Demand Ramp Up

Despite technical and financial hurdles, annual global demand for grid-scale energy storage is expected to soar to 185.4 GWh by 2017, which means a possible 231% average year-on-year demand growth…