The resort community of Wailea on the island of Maui will be the recipient of a prototype “smart grid” built by General Electric Company. This new type of electricity grid will feature new power meters in homes that can monitor how much energy is being used by each appliance in the house, and turn them off when power is most expensive. At times of peak energy usage, especially in the summer, the price of electricity increases with demand. For example, this type of power grid could adjust air conditioning and refrigerator temperatures, or pause dishwashing or clothes washing and drying until overall demand on the grid is lower and power is cheaper.
This kind of smart grid is also better at integrating more inconsistent and unpredictable forms of renewable energy, such as wind power and solar power. On cloudy and calm days, computers can manage the power generated from fossil fuel plants to make sure that the electricity supply remains stable until more favorable weather conditions return.
There are currently around 70 smart grid test sites throughout the country, including programs in Houston, Miami and Seattle. With Austin Energy’s commitment to get 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020, look for a discussion to begin in the coming years about bringing some kind of smart grid solution to Central Texas.
For more information on smart grid technology, visit GE’s website.
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