Electricity · 8 min read · Energy Atlas Editorial
What Is a Smart Grid?
A smart grid is a power system that can see itself and respond — sensors, communications, and control on top of copper and steel.
- grid
Legacy grids were built for one-way flow from large plants. Wind, solar, and demand response require forecasts, inverters that follow instructions, and markets that pay for flexibility. 'Smart' is not a single gadget; it is an operating doctrine.
Related terms: Smart grid
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Questions
What is a smart grid and how does it work?
Sensing, communication, and control layered on the physical network so variable resources can coexist with reliability.
How should we understand the decentralization of electricity production?
More small generators change power flows. They do not abolish physics or the need for a coordinated grid.