PNNL

Abstract

GridWise™ is a vision for the future electric system shared by a new DOE initiative and an industry alliance. GridWise is built upon the fundamental premise that information technology will profoundly transform the plan¬ning and operation of the power grid, just at is has changed business, education, and entertainment. The electric power system has served us remarkably well for over half a century. However, with business-as-usual solutions, the U.S. will invest around $450 billion in conventional electric infrastructure—generation, transmission, and distribution—over the next 20 years just to meet demand for a growing population and economy. Even more investment will be needed to relieve the growing backlog of deferred transmission additions. Since the mortgage on infrastructure is a major component of electric rates, economic prosperity and our way of life depend upon minimizing the need for new infrastructure by increasing the utilization of these assets. This paper discusses the GridWise vision and describes some example technologies and how they are woven together to fundamentally alter the way the power grid works. The benefits of an information-rich power system and key elements of the DOE’s new GridWise initiative are also presented.