Smart grids become the core track of global energy transformation
Driven by the concept of low-carbon economy and sustainable development, smart grids have become the core development direction of the global power industry. Its essence is the "intelligence" of the power grid - relying on a high-speed two-way communication network, integrating advanced sensing measurement, equipment technology, control methods and decision-making systems to achieve reliable, safe, economical, efficient and environmentally friendly power supply.
Due to different development foundations, the paths for smart grid construction have their own characteristics: the United States focuses on upgrading power grid infrastructure and replaces manual operations with information technology; Europe focuses on the integration of renewable energy and distributed energy to promote the transformation of industry models; China builds a strong transmission system based on ultra-high voltage backbone networks to achieve large-scale optimization of energy allocation. Despite different focus, "grid and user interaction" is a common feature of global smart grids, and smart meters are the core carrier of this feature.
Smart meter: a leap from "metering tools" to "interactive hub"
Smart meter is not a simple upgrade of traditional meters, but a smart terminal integrating metering, communication and control. Its development has gone through three stages: the electronic meter in the 1970s, which solved the problems of low efficiency and large data deviation of manual meter reading of mechanical meters; the subsequent time-sharing billing and prepaid meters achieved functional expansion; today's smart meters are based on chips, integrating two-way communication and data management systems, becoming an "interactive hub" connecting power supply parties and users.
Its core functions highlight the advantages of "intelligence":
- Supports floating electricity prices: record time-standard electricity data with time-standard electricity, adapt to time-sharing electricity prices and real-time electricity prices mechanisms, and provide data support for demand-side management.
- Two-way communication: Through the built-in module, power supply companies can push outage notifications and real-time electricity prices, so that users can grasp the power usage dynamics and flexibly adjust their power usage plans.
- Smart home appliance control: Automatically regulate the start and shutdown of home appliances based on real-time electricity prices, and "peak cutting and valley filling" can be achieved without additional investment from users, reducing electricity bills.
- Two-way metering: Provide accurate metering of power generation and purchases for distributed power users (such as households that install solar and wind energy equipment), encourage the use of clean energy, and reduce the load pressure of the power grid.
Smart meter empowers multiple scenarios of smart grids
In the construction of smart grids, the role of smart meters has penetrated into the entire chain of power generation, transmission, distribution and electricity consumption:
- Optimize new energy consumption: formulate accurate load forecasts through real-time data collection and guide the optimization and scheduling of new energy such as wind power and solar energy. The distribution management system developed by the University of Hawaii in the United States uses smart meters as the portal to achieve demand response, energy-saving automation and distributed power generation collaborative control.
- Improve the efficiency of distributed energy allocation: Power supply companies use smart meters to monitor distribution systems in real time to master the interactive relationship between distributed power supplies and the power grid, and ensure that the electricity is delivered to users in the most economical and safest way.
- Strengthen load prediction and fault handling: Users can upload power usage plans and power generation data through smart meters, and the power supply party optimizes load prediction and reduces the backup capacity of the power grid; when a fault occurs, the abnormal data recorded by the smart meter can provide a key basis for fault analysis.
- Promote intelligent management on the demand side: collect real-time data such as voltage, current, and power, intelligently monitor the status and energy consumption of power consumption equipment, automatically generate orderly power consumption plans and track implementation effects, and realize the intelligentization of the entire process of demand side management.
China's smart meter: Advance to modularity, networking and systemization
As the "nerve endings" of the smart grid, China's smart meters are accelerating their evolution to a higher stage. At present, the construction of the State Grid's "Power User Electricity Information Collection System" has achieved phased results, and automatic meter reading technology has become the core support. However, the industry generally believes that the current equipment is still in the transition stage from "electronic meter" to "real smart meter", and "in-depth interaction between users and power supply parties" is the future breakthrough direction.
Its development path has been clarified:
- Modular design: Through functional module splitting, "local upgrades and replacements are achieved", reducing maintenance costs, breaking the manufacturer's monopoly, and standardizing industry standards.
- Networked layout: Relying on power line carriers, optical fibers, wireless networks and other channels, real-time transmission and sharing of power data. The "Power Fiber Household Entry" project promoted by State Grid and China Telecom can solve the problems of multi-line householding such as wires, network lines, telephone lines and other construction in one go, providing a stable and low-cost channel for data transmission.
- Systematized integration: With the help of computer and power automation technology, the analysis and management of massive electricity consumption data is realized on the data platform, and the development of electricity consumption information systems towards distribution and openness are promoted, and functional scalability and ease of use are improved.
International practice confirms: the social benefits and market potential of smart meters
International pilots have fully verified the value of smart meters. The UK's monitoring of households installing smart meters shows that through two-way data feedback to optimize electricity usage, the annual electricity bill of ordinary households can be reduced by 13% to 15%. The government estimates that if 26 million households across the country popularize smart meters, they can save £2.5-3.6 billion in the next 20 years, reducing energy consumption by 3%-15%, and significantly benefiting the environment.
This practice not only provides a basis for policy formulation, but also highlights the market potential of smart meters. With the maturity of technology and the decline in costs, smart meters are moving from "pilot application" to "scale popularization", becoming a key fulcrum for promoting energy transformation and achieving the "dual carbon" goal.
In my country, with the acceleration of modularization, networking and systemization, smart meter will further open up the interaction channel between power supply parties and users, provide solid support for the full implementation of smart grids, and help the energy industry move towards efficient, low-carbon and sustainable directions.
FAQ
Q1: What should I pay attention to when installing a smart meter?
A1: Smart meter should be installed by professionals. Before installation, check that the meter is intact and the accessories are complete, and choose a dry, ventilated, free of strong electromagnetic interference and good signal. The wiring must be strictly followed by the diagram to ensure firmness and errors. After installation, debugging and initializing the settings are required.
Q2: How do users view smart meter data?
A2: Users can view power consumption, peak and valley power, balance, etc. through the buttons on the power supply company's official website or APP; they can also query detailed power consumption data and bills on the power supply company's official website or APP; if connected to the smart home system, they can also centrally manage and monitor power consumption through the terminal.
Q3: Can smart meters remotely control home appliances?
A3: Some smart meters support this function. The meter can communicate with home appliances based on real-time electricity prices, and automatically control air conditioners, electric water heaters and other equipment to achieve electricity consumption optimization. However, smart home appliances and electricity meters need to support relevant protocols and have a stable network environment.