April 17, 2009
News View Article
Smart-Grid Funds Announced by Vice President Biden Critical Step in Updating Nation's Aged Power Grid, Pitt Expert SaysPitt electric power expert available to discuss how a smart grid would allow more energy efficiency through real-time control and integration of alternative energy sources
Vice President Joseph Biden's April 16 announcement of more than $3.3
billion in federal grants to establish a national electric 'smart' grid
is an important and overdue step toward modernizing the United States'
antiquated power infrastructure, according to a University of
Pittsburgh electric power-grid expert. The smart grid consists of
digitally networked devices that can monitor power generation and
delivery and respond to customer demand. The advanced grid has been a
priority of President Barack Obama's administration.
Gregory
Reed, a professor of electrical and computer engineering in Pitt's
Swanson School of Engineering and director of the school's Power and
Energy Initiative, is available to comment on how a smart grid would
allow for more energy efficiency through real-time monitoring of
customer usage and better integration of alternative energy sources.
Deregulation of the power grid in the past 20 years has resulted in
underinvestment and reduced reliability in electricity delivery, Reed
said.
“The smart grid is critical to rejuvenating the nation's
electric power and energy infrastructure and prepare it for future
growth,” Reed said. “Consumers could have more information in real time
regarding energy pricing and delivery. All market participants, from
producers to consumers, would have an enhanced ability for real-time
control of energy usage, leading to higher levels of conservation,
savings, and energy efficiency. Also, we could draw from a wider range
of renewable and alternative energy sources, including next-generation
nuclear plants, clean-coal technology, and a host of other generation
systems. The establishment of standards around these new technologies
to properly integrate them into the power network will also be an
important element of smart-grid development.”
Reed is a
recognized authority on advanced electric power generation,
transmission and distribution systems, and power electronics
technologies with 25 years of experience in the power industry. Before
coming to Pitt, Reed focused on creating more efficient and advanced
electric power systems. He has written or coauthored more than 50
papers and technical articles on power system analysis and the
application of power systems technologies. He was a major contributor
to the drafts and proposals of the 2005 U.S. Energy Policy Act,
including written language pertaining to energy-related research,
education, and market initiatives.
Reed worked previously at
KEMA Inc.-an international power and energy consulting firm-as senior
vice president of the power system planning and management group where
he advised North American firms on power systems management, power
transmission, and technology applications. He spent most of the
previous decade at Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc., most
recently as director of business and technology development. Reed began
his career in the electric power industry as an engineer at the
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
