IEEE Unveils Portfolio to Drive Continued Advancement of the Global Smart Grid

IEEE today unveiled a host of resources designed to foster continued innovation and advancement of the global smart grid. IEEE Smart Grid Research is building one of the industry's most comprehensive portfolios of smart grid-related intelligence, including materials such as vision documents and research papers that address problems and challenges in both the long- and short-term.

“With IEEE Smart Grid Research, we are moving into the full lifecycle of standards-related activities by adopting a proactive, forward-looking approach from pre-standard activities to real-world adoption and implementation,” said Bill Ash, strategic program manager, IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA). “We are building out a portfolio of rich resources ranging from long-term vision and roadmap documents to research papers that explore today’s pressing challenges, to help key stakeholders advance their own work. This will enable us to create a pipeline for incubation of innovative technologies to standards development and market acceptance, supporting global growth of the smart grid market.”

IEEE Smart Grid Research long-term research focuses on five technology sectors that include power, computing, communications, control systems, and vehicle technology. It leverages potential use cases, application scenarios and enabling technologies to deliver the most complete picture possible of the next generation of technology in each respective smart grid space. IEEE Smart Grid Research will have a long-term vision document, reference model and roadmap for each of the five technology sectors, as well as shorter-term research available for addressing more immediate concerns. IEEE Smart Grid Research materials will cover projections of where the smart grid will evolve to, technology challenges and opportunities, and areas where additional research is needed.

Among the first resources available will be three downloadable Vision documents:

IEEE Grid Vision 2050, addressing the smart grid power landscape, offers a long-range view of the power landscape as it relates to the smart grid, including existing and future technology developments and emerging challenges that must be overcome during the next 40 years.

IEEE Smart Grid Vision for Computing: 2030 and Beyond examines the evolution of smart grid operational concepts and computing technologies. The document aims to spur investments in computing technologies facilitating fulfillment of smart grid visions and improving power system performance, efficiency, speed, reliability, and resiliency. IEEE Smart Grid Vision for Computing: 2030 and Beyond also focuses on a broad array of computing technologies spanning multiple disciplines, and outlines their possible roles in the future electric grid.

IEEE Smart Grid Vision for Communications: 2030 and Beyond lays out a vision of the smart grid for the year 2030 from a communications perspective. It also discusses imperatives of different stakeholders, and impediments to realizing this vision. Following the discussion are smart grid goals for different constituencies, and how communications should evolve to enable key smart grid functionality.

Long-term IEEE Smart Grid Research resources represent a collaborative effort being jointly produced by IEEE-SA and its relevant IEEE technical societies, which are partnering to develop long-term documents in each of the five technology topic areas. Participating societies include IEEE Communications Society (IEEE ComSoc), IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Control Systems Society (IEEE CSS), IEEE Intelligent Transportation Society (IEEE ITSS) and IEEE Power & Energy Society (IEEE PES).

“IEEE Smart Grid Research will provide research topics and problem statements for where further research and investment are needed for smart grid technology development,” said Georges Simard, editor-in-chief, IEEE Grid Vision 2050. “By providing future snapshots of years 2015, 2020, 2030 and beyond, these projects allow us to look past today’s smart grid event horizon and chart a successful course for the smart grid of tomorrow.”

Also soon to be available are two research papers, “Global Consumer Socialization of Smart Grid”, and “Cyber Security for the Smart Grid”. Targeted toward smart grid practitioners and researchers, both papers will help in the identification of problems and challenges in the short-term. Global Consumer Socialization of Smart Grid explores emerging consumer issues and will help utilities and energy companies better engage with and address the needs of customers globally. Cyber Security for the Smart Grid examines details of cyber security vulnerabilities existing throughout the smart grid value chain, mitigation efforts undertaken by countries, and measures to be implemented going forward. Additionally, Cyber Security for the Smart Grid delves into concerns that must be addressed for effective implementation of the smart grid.