Smart grid

IEEE Open Source Software Task Force

Sometimes an open initiative just ‘clicks’, because it fills a growing need and does so in the right way. Great non-software examples I have come across in recent history are Wikipedia OpenStreetMap RepRap DIY Book Scanner WikiHouse OpenDesk and EOMA68. Just yesterday I experienced another such a ‘click’ initiative: the IEEE Task Force on Open Source Software for Power Systems. This initiative has a clear mission in encouraging free software adoption in this rather conservative field:

This Task Force explores the potential for open source software (OSS) in the Power Engineering Society (PES). The mission of the Task Force is twofold:

1. diffuse the philosophy of OSS in the power systems community
2. promote OSS for the benefit of the PES ranging all the way from simple pedagogical OSS to commercial-grade OSS.

— IEEE Open Source Software Task Force

Having a power system background, ever since I’ve become aware of free software I’ve wondered about why so little free software is being developed and used in the field of power systems. This concerns both software for calculations and simulations, but also operational systems like SCADA which could certainly benefit from having more eyes on the code. Also the calculation and simulation software is entering the operation domain now that the increased number of measurements and the available computation power allow for real-time grid analysis.

In any case power system software is becoming an ever more important part of the core business of power system development and management. Some vendor-independence and collaboration in development therefore seems to be important and sensible. Current practice however seems to indicate a low level of adoption by the industry, probably because free software has only recently come to the attention of the industry, and because of the lack of companies offering support. The latter has proven to work for the software industry, with Red Hat as a great example.

Two listed presentations at the panel sessions of 2009 because it shows the task force cares about software integration. An interchangeable data format was discussed which expands upon existing standards to better allow software programs to tie in with each other. Likewise GIS integration has been discussed, which is an important development in bridging the gap between the real-world and the simulation model, since the scope of a power system is greater than its individual components.

The software list published by the task force certainly lists some projects I’ll look further into. I certainly hope the efforts of this task force and the listed projects will contribute to a bright power system future.

Bridging the smart grid gap

In the industry and academics around power systems there is a lot of buzz around the smart grid. As the matter of fact, the smart grid has become the norm on which to base predictions and proposals. And despite all the marketing buzz, it is truly a great cause for engineers to pay attention to. The smart grid paradigm releases extensive engineering efforts and the supportive creativity and financial funds. The underlying motivation is however rarely questioned. Why even a smart grid? Does it have any significance?

The mechanics of the grid operators are on the other hand mostly unmoved by all the buzz. They also hardly need to, since the core of the electrical grid still needs maintenance and expansion. Methods change and some additional measurement systems and control systems might have to be installed. Generally however not much has changed.

So there is a gap, and during my graduation I often times cross this gap. A gap which is totally logical, once you see where both sides are coming from. The mechanics over the years have established a way of building a very reliable and quite optimal electrical grid. There wouldn’t be any direct harm in continuing in this fashion, making some minor adjustments to planning and management if needed. The other side of the spectrum is however looking at the frightening trend of distributed generation and the nearly unlimited possibilities of IT-systems.

Even though these worlds are closing in on each other, they talk different languages. One side considers a lifetime of 10 years a maximum, whilst the other makes exploitation plans for 50 years ore more. One side sets out to build a highly reliable systems which will require the minimum of management, whilst the other side would like to automate all possible management tasks. One side doesn’t get scared of loads of wires, whilst the other side is cautious of adding even a single unnecessary conductor near a power system. One side would like to analyze information down to the microsecond, whilst the other side would only like to receive an indication if real action is needed. One side is concerned with the power systems in place, whilst the other is concerned with the procedures and management around it. Of course these examples are somewhat exaggerated, but as the matter of fact the backgrounds of both sides are very different.

The real threat to the smart grid adoption is when the mechanics are overrun by the distributed generation and when the management and academics come up with impractical solutions for non-existing problems. It is the problem of not talking and not having the smart grid discussion.

So at last there seems to be a reason not only for the smart grid, but more importantly for all its buzz.