The smart grid is a
modernised network for utilities, including: electricity grids, gas
pipelines, and water networks. Smart grids need information and
communications technologies (ICT) to ensure that the distribution of
these utilities is optimally matched to their production. By doing so,
the smart grid aims to offer improvements to the efficiency,
reliability, economics, and sustainability of such networks.
Significant ICT is needed to allow the behaviours of the suppliers and
the consumers to be matched in real-time. For electricity grids,
smart-grid technologies are essential for accommodating renewable
energy technologies and for supporting future demand from electric
vehicles.
Research at The Open University covers
technological,
economic, organisational, and behavioural aspects of smart grids. This
includes: ICT solutions to optimise the performance and usability of
home energy-generation systems; models and simulations to investigate
demand-response strategies; behaviour-change strategies to influence
consumption of electricity, water and gas; and investigating consumer
attitudes toward smart-grid rollouts.
OU Energy is strongly linked to this £16m smart
city
project led by the Open University, UK
Further Information
For further information on OU smart grids and demand side management research, please contact Professor William Nuttall (Professor of Energy):