Not everyone agrees on a precise definition of the smart grid, but most agree the modern grid will become increasingly complex.
As new kinds of loads, sources and equipment are implemented, the nature of the distribution network might evolve from a radial, one-way commodity delivery system to a bidirectional one. As the modern grid grows in sophistication, the need to plan, engineer and operate the network more effectively is critical. Enter advanced distribution management systems (ADMSs). Innovations in distribution management systems (DMSs) are helping address network complexity and making the smarter grid a reality.
A Revolution in DMS
DMS isn't new. Some utilities have used computers to model their networks for nearly four decades using load-flow algorithms to calculate voltages and power flows at nodes throughout the network. More recently, say, for the past 25 years, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems have monitored and controlled the grid at key locations such as substations in real time. More recently, DMS combined the two ideas, solving the network model with using a load flow while accessing key real-time data points to enhance the picture of the grid.
As good as they were, first-generation DMSs can't cope with the requirements of a smarter grid. To safely and reliably operate, the modern grid needs a brain with capacity and functionality.
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