In addition to "energy of the future", ie renewable energy, the realization of intelligent infrastructure under the buzzword "Smart Grid" is the main theme in the energy industry and the relevant political bodies. The discussion becomes even more dynamic after the desaster in Japan. 

 
What is a SmartGrid?
A SmartGrid is an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the actions of all
users connected to it - generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to
efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies.
 
A SmartGrid employs innovative products and services together with intelligent monitoring,
control, communication, and self-healing technologies to:
 

• better facilitate the connection and operation of generators of all sizes and technologies;
• allow consumers to play a part in optimizing the operation of the system;
• provide consumers with greater information and choice of supply;
• significantly reduce the environmental impact of the whole electricity supply system;
• deliver enhanced levels of reliability and security of supply.

 
SmartGrids deployment must include not only technology, market and commercial
considerations, environmental impact, regulatory framework, standardization usage, ICT
Information & Communication Technology) and migration strategy but also societal
requirements and governmental edicts.

The Aims:
 

• Provide a user-centric approach and allow new services to enter into the market;
• Establish innovation as an economical driver for the electricity networks renewal;
• Maintain security of supply, ensure integration and interoperability;
• Provide accessibility to a liberalized market and foster competition;
• Enable distributed generation and utilization of renewable energy sources;
• Ensure best use of central generation;
• Consider appropriately the impact of environmental limitations;
• Enable demand side participation (DSR, DSM);
• Inform the political and regulatory aspects;
• Consider the societal aspects.

 
The need for SmartGrids
It is vital that Europe’s electricity networks are able to integrate all low carbon generation
technologies as well as to encourage the demand side to play an active part in the supply
chain. This must be done by upgrading and evolving the networks efficiently and economically.
It will involve network development at all voltage levels. For example, substantial offshore and improved onshore transmission infrastructure will be required in the near term to facilitate the development of wind power across Europe. Distribution networks will need to embrace active network management technologies to efficiently integrate distributed generation (DG),
including residential micro generation, on a large scale. There are many other examples but all will require the connectivity that networks provide to achieve the targets for energy securityand environmental sustainability.
A combination of effective legislation and regulation will be needed to secure these
developments in a timely way. 

An essential prerequisite for the realization of a Smart Grid is the implementation of European and national decisions on the introduction of an intelligent measurement and counting, "Smart Metering". The projects have already started.
 
Take a look at the smart metering project map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115519311058367534348.0000011362ac6d7d21187&ll=53.956086,14.677734&spn=2

 
 
Opportunities for Consulting Business
Consulting Professionals already play a key role in most technology and
engineering-oriented processes and activities around the SmartGrids deployment. The
issues like standardization, feasibility studies and, to that matter, the whole SmartGrids
deployment cannot be imagined without their active participation and in many cases even a
lead role.
A further opportunity for Consulting Business is the transfer of best practices of different branches into the realization of smart grids and of course, smart metering. Especially the lessons learned in the telecommunication industry during liberalization should be very important.

The recommendation is:

• stay tuned to this topic,
• get involved in discussions and
• build up networks with the players in this context.

It is the right time!