Large-Scale Integrated Smart Grids with High Penetration of Renewables and Customer Participation

clipped from www.leonardo-energy.org The evolutionary path of the U.S. electricity grid is at an historical crossroad. Decisions are going to be made about the direction of grid development so that it can meet extraordinary economic challenges, critical needs for energy security, and essential requirements for a sustainable way of life. This is a defining moment in terms of our nation’s commitment to providing an electric energy system, including the bulk transmission network, that meets societal needs of the 21st century and beyond. A major evolutionary step in the grid’s design, planning, and operation is needed using new design concepts and innovative technologies that can be integrated into a modern infrastructure. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides opportunities to achieve these far‐reaching objectives.