Smart Grids Continue to Expand Worldwide
According to SP Group’s annual Smart Grid Index, grids in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific are becoming smarter and greener.
The Singapore energy group’s annual assessment shows advances in all three areas over the previous year, with North American providers continuing to dominate in smart grid construction. But the European and Asian Pacific sectors have also been steadily trailing closer and closer behind.
Globally, operators advanced the most in the ‘Green Energy’ category – one of seven measured – by 7%, with North American utilities improving by 10%.
North American energy providers also demonstrated the highest levels of sophistication in the other aspects, such as ‘Monitoring and control,’ ‘Predictive analysis,’ ‘DER incorporation,’ ‘Security,’ and ‘Customer participation and satisfaction,’ with the exception of ‘Supply stability,’ which is roughly half that of the other two areas.
Asia Pacific institutions, on the other side, improved the most in supply stability, while European utilities saw the most improvements in the security aspect.
Other findings include that 65 percent of utility companies globally have wind and solar power generating more than 10 percent of power requirement, a 9 percent rise from the previous period, with European companies, who have been leading for the past four years, reaching 83 percent.
The 2021 Smart Grid Index compares 86 utilities from 37 nations, with France’s Enedis ranking first. The utility made significant progress over the year, particularly in predictive analytics, DER incorporation, and security.
UK Power Networks, which was ranked first last year, has been able to maintain its position and is currently tied with Consolidated Edison of the United States and Taiwan Electric Utility, whose score has grown significantly.
Others in the top 10 remain mostly unaltered, but Dubai Electricity & Water Authority enters the top 10 due to significant gains in surveillance, control, and security.
