Smart Grid

By 2030 the United States Government hopes to have up and running a "smart grid". In the coming months you will be hearing a lot about this grid. The question to ask is, what is it, and how will this effect green collar jobs?

The Department of Energy describes the "smart grid" as "The electric grid delivers electricity from points of generation to consumers, and the electricity delivery network functions via two primary systems: the transmission system and the distribution system. The transmission system delivers electricity from power plants to distribution substations, while the distribution system delivers electricity from distribution substations to consumers. The grid also encompasses myriads of local area networks that use distributed energy resources to serve local loads and/or to meet specific application requirements for remote power, village or district power, premium power, and critical loads protection."

Now for the second question, what does this mean for green careers? The building of the smart grid might be the largest infrastructure program in thirty years. The finishing this project will create a way to easily and transmit wind and solar power on mass. Like any big building projects, all kinds of workers will be needed. Both skilled and unskilled workers are needed for the construction of the grid. Very soon federal and state governments will be looking for workers. Stay ahead of the curve and try to prepare for this exciting project.

Smart Grid Resources
• Power Electronics in Smart Electrical Energy Networks (Power Systems)
• Computer-Aided Lean Management for the Energy Industry
• Clean Technology 2008: Bio Energy, Renewables, Green Building, Smart Grid, Storage, and Water
• 2007 Global BPL - Utilities Moving Towards Broadbanded Smart Grids
• The "Smarts" of an Intelligent Grid: Analytics for Intelligent Grid Initiatives

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