Smart grid review: Reality in Colombia and expectations

Abstract

Abstract Colombia has a hydroelectric power generation capacity of over 60% and thermal generation just above 30%. Smart Grids have as a common objective the reliability of the energy service and the economic growth using Information and Communication Technologies for the generation with minimum contributions of energy supply sources derived from fossil fuels. Therefore, some strategies are proposed for the implementation of components such as renewable energies, controlled loads, energy storage systems, electric vehicles which are managed by an aggregator, besides considering the uncertainty in the Colombian environment that includes climatic conditions, the prediction of user load and market prices. Smart Grids requires flexible management of loads in collaboration with users, it depends on their habits and control of charges (smart households). Energy storage is a tactic to control user loads and generation with non-conventional renewable energy. As energy storage methods are presented adapted to regional conditions.